Since its inception Vodafail.com has made a significant
contribution towards raising awareness of the problems and issues faced
by Vodafone customers.

Vodafone Australia customers have had the opportunity to voice their concerns, their fears and their troubles from every corner of Australia and beyond our borders.
You have gathered the courage to stand up for your rights as consumers and to make your voice heard.

Each and every person who shared their story should have a sense of pride in this achievement and the changes that have occurred since the start of Vodafail.com.

More recently, traffic to Vodafail.com has declined significantly.
Having achieved the goal of raising awareness and promoting concrete action in early 2011, we have now reached the point of closing Vodafail to new complaints.
The site will remain online for as long as possible as a
reminder and an example of what is possible when we share our experiences.

It has been a privilege to run this initiative
and I'm am forever grateful for the help and support I've received. In
particular I would like to thank Melissa, David and Travis for their
continued efforts over the past 15 months. I'm also thankful and humbled by the support of ACCAN, Choice magazine and a wide range of media outlets, blogs and websites.

16483 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is response to the letter from the CEO of Vodafone. at 31 Mar 2011 06:41:52 PM

Dear Nigel,

I hope you don't mind me calling you Nigel, but seeing as you addressed me by my Christian name, I thought I'd pay you the same discourtesy. I'm sure we have never met personally. But then, Vodafone has always had a somewhat cavalier attitude to customer service, and not only in my experience. The letter of apology (3/3/2011) you sent to me and thousands of other customers was a kind of hilarious insult, and I think even the type of people that subscribe to bestiality websites collectively scoffed at your vapid excuses. I'd have thought it was a risky career move to apologise to your customers in the Telco business, seeing as it's an admission of guilt, which for my money makes you liable to compensate people for legitimate grievances-but that's an unpleasant topic to bring up at this fledgling stage, so we'll come back to that, but for now, I'll say this: apologies don't put dollars back in our pockets, Nigel. If you really wanted to apologise by 'snail-mail,' (which is apparently faster than your connection to 3G) you would have to bulldoze about 500 000 hectares of Tasmanian old growth if you wanted to be comprehensive about it. You say, in the second paragraph of the introduction, that you 'aim to provide our customers with an excellent customer experience and the best possible value, but recently our network and customer service performance, particularly in December and January, fell well below the standards we set for ourselves.' Fuck me, Nigel. That statement alone starts my mind spinning like a one-armed bandit. There's so many goddamn dirty questions (or confirmations of my suspicions) that you've thrown up for all to see that I don't know where to begin. I'll get to most of them in due course though. Pour yourself a Scotch.

Firstly, if the network coverage and customer service had only fallen below par in the months you mentioned, I might not be writing this note, but the fact is the service - both network and customer - has always been an abomination in the face of value for money and basic, honest, human decency and conduct. Secondly, I was amazed to discover that you have standards that you set for yourselves. What, pray tell, might these 'standards' be? It strikes me as standard practise in the Telco industry to yank customers around by their contracts like a choke chain without ever revealing what kind of obligations the service provider has to them, the paying customers. Let me stress that: PAYING CUSTOMER. That's right, old son, you work for me, for all intents and purposes or at least, that's what you should be doing. But all you do is take my money while alleging that you are providing me with something in return. In shabby reality, you're not. I am routinely overcharged for a service that I cannot even use in my own home or suburb. And it's patchy at best throughout the region. You might think we're a bunch of parochial morons out here in the sticks, but cellular technology has been available to us for at least ten years, believe it or not. Word is we'll even be getting the internet soon. Does Vodafone offer internet connections? I'm thinking of getting 56K dial-up. I don't have a landline yet, but I'll get one, because I'll be damned if I'm going to put up with your bullshit any longer.

Yes, a landline. I guess that way if I have to call the police or any other kind of emergency service, the phone connection is less likely to DROP OUT like it does when I use my mobile phone to call them I hate to have to sue you over some grievous, long term injury that I could sustain on my property. Did I mention that I'm a young woman living alone in a relatively isolated area? Yeah, that's right, I live a whole twenty minutes north of the largest regional centre in the Illawarra, and about twenty minutes south of a phone tower at Maddens Plains. In fact, I believe there is a phone tower in Thirroul, which is five minutes away from me. It's built between an Anglican church and a primary school, though the primary school is for Catholics so, I wonder why I can't call a friend on a lonely night, let alone the police or an ambulance? To the best of my knowledge, emergency services are not equipped to receive Morse code, or read smoke signals, which is about all I have at my disposal if something terrible happened. That was the first lie one of your sales reps told me - that Vodafone has 98% network coverage in Australia. Evidently, while the girl in the shop looked me in my good eye and said that, she neglected to mention that the 2% not covered includes a good deal of the Illawarra. Seeing as this was happening at a store in Wollongong, I don't see any excuse for it whatsoever, though I understand that honesty is not the best policy when you're in the snake-oil business. This brings me to a proposition - no - directive that I have for you:

Seeing as you were foolish enough to admit what a monumental balls-up your engineer gimps and sullen service reps made of December and January, I think it's only fair to expect some kind of compensation. I wonder if you would feel the same? It strikes me that you probably didn't become a CEO by lying down like a smack-whore on the nod and getting fucked by every ruthless exploiter that stepped over your body. Well, I don't intend to let that happen to me, so if you've got a problem with this strong suggestion, try and put yourself in my shoes. I bet you can. You don't get to be the boss just because you've got a smooth complexion or do you? Anyway, how's this? You pay me back the two bills I paid during December and January. By the way, nice timing on your Egyptian-style destruction of the communications system, dude. Right smack bang on the summer holidays. So - the bills amount to $84.89 (Dec) and $81.00 (Jan). If I hadn't somehow mysteriously exceeded my cap ($79), which always seems to happen, the sum total would be $158 for the pair, but seeing as your corrupt and/or terminally stupid Nazi debt-collector types like to overcharge me, it amounts to $165.89. There was no way for me to investigate this apparent skimming, because I have a couple of things going on in my life. Like commuting, working and sleeping. Having been on the phone to Vodafone for eight hours (total) one day, I don't feel particularly inspired to deal with your maniacal rhetoric on a monthly basis over a couple of dollars. But goddamn it, you know you take your cut well as I do, and I think that's a lousy way to make money. It's for bums. You grift people who give you their bank details like idiot tourists buying imitation Rolexes in third world countries. You're nothing but a bunch of hawkers, con-men and scabs. Your marketing department is run by pimps. The whole operation appears to be based - almost completely - on deceit and subterfuge. It's as if your organisation is run by an army of street thugs, and the call-centre workers are on the front line but I'm not saying the others are any better. I don't want you to feel singled out here, Nigel, but as the CEO, I would imagine you should be held responsible for the conduct of a major corporate entity whose moral compass has apparently been hurled into a snowdrift in the Arctic Circle.

Anyway, a few more stipulations regarding the money I am invoicing you for. I would, obviously, like to be released from this 'contract' I'm allegedly bound to. Seeing as you don't appear to take the contract seriously, I don't see why I should. When you show me your policies, codes of conduct etc, (which I was told were internal documents' when I asked to see them) I might entertain the idea that this contract' is in any way legally binding. You want to hope it is, because it's sure as hell not based on good will, is it? Telcos in this country have been getting away with treating people like shit and charging them for it for years. That is not going to happen to me anymore. So, I'll take the $165.89 - every cent, thanks - and be released from the contract without severance fees or string attachments of any kind. That deal goes a damnsight further than fair, Nigel, and you know it. We're talking about real money here, not that Monopoly-fantasy-call credit horseshit you use to dupe the rubes out of their shiny pennies. And I know that $165.89 ain't much to either of us, really, but I'm asking for it because it's money you admitted you don't deserve. Billing cycle begins on the first of the month. Failure to pay within the first 12 days of the new month will result in a $25 penalty fee!. If you are indeed 'working as hard and fast as [you] can to show [the customer] the changes and improvements [Vodafone is] making,' I want to see the evidence. In the form of cash, old mate. Money talks a hell of a lot louder than second-rate apologies beefed-up with pointless technical details. I hope I'm not being presumptuous, but I'm sure you are aware of this.

Explanations don't come easy in your business, do they? It was easier to get an apology out of you than it is to contend with the unmitigated stream of bullshit that I get from both automatons and humans that man your call-centres, which I imagine resemble some kind of third world sweatshop. Believe it or not, I am a professional - a civil servant, no less - and that is how I am able to pay these inexplicably inflated bills you keep hitting me with. Unfortunately, it also means that after a day of dealing with the disabled that I do not have the patience or inclination to deal with your half-bright service reps when I get home. Not that I can call you from my home, because, as I may have mentioned earlier MY PHONE DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT NETWORK COVERAGE. I hope I'm being plain enough for you to follow me here, Nigel- in fact, it's quite pleasant writing to you, because I haven't been transferred to five different trainee phone monkeys who are pretending that the manager is out to lunch. I suppose you have a harem of PAs to screen your mail, but I pray to the heathen gods one of them hates you enough to pass this letter on to you.

Yours Sincerely,

Ms (SURNAME REMOVED)

31 Mar 2011 07:29:59 PM: Why did this message go all fucked up?

31 Mar 2011 11:04:13 PM: Apologies for that, the character encoding went a bit funny on your post but we've fixed it up now.

26 Apr 2011 07:16:01 PM: This is the best piece of writing I have read in a long time. Any reply yet?

27 Apr 2011 02:07:29 PM: Has there been any reply to this yet?!

30 Apr 2011 10:42:27 PM: Good luck in suing for compensation based on the fact that you had injured yourself on your property and could not contact emergency services because you had poor mobile services. The fact that you have acknowledged this means it was forseeable, so unless you do whatever is reasonable to overcome this i.e. find a more reliable service suited for 'the sticks' such as telstra (you know, the service renowned for great regional coverage') then you have contributed to your own ill fortunes. I would think the fact that the CEO admitted to and apologised for faults in the service shows courage. You didn't see Optus apologise when they signed up too many users for their network capability.
They simply denied it and hoped no one noticed in the time it took them to install more towers and upgrade their network, for which, like Vodafone, they are constantly still doing.

2 May 2011 02:09:25 PM: That was fantastic. But who is this TWAT above me. Do they work for Telstra?
I have noticed a LOT of pro telstra comments on the site. Is this why they charge like a wounded bull, because that have TWAT monkeys running around commenting on forums against thier competitors?

3 May 2011 08:44:46 PM: Dear 30 Apr 2011 10:42:27 PM,

If that's your idea of courage, I'd hate to see your idea of business sense.

- Ms.

16 May 2011 12:12:57 PM: If everyone goes to Telstra They will have a monopoly AGAIN!!!
Vonaphone Prepaid thank Goodness!!

20 Jul 2011 05:30:11 PM: Pure genius!!!!! Will you marry me?

31 Jul 2011 08:03:33 PM: F*cking awesome!

3 Aug 2011 06:35:26 PM: Bit off-topic, but thought I would mention: it's my understanding that you can dial emergency services (000) from any provider and it will be routed through, so long as their is a tower in your area to pick up the signal. So, this means if you have a handset on Vodafone, if there is a compatible Telstra tower in the area, it will accept the call. Don't take my word for it though... I don't like the idea of getting sued! Or, more importantly people dying because of my assumptions. :P

13 Sep 2011 07:36:50 PM: You can always call 000 as long as there's a tower to pick up the signal, no matter what network, even if the mobile doesn't have a SIM card in it. I worked in the 000 call centre: if there's no SIM card in the phone, the call just comes through as usual except without any address information.

4 Jan 2012 11:11:59 AM: That was an awesome read..Someone should make sure VF and the ACMA get that one...I had to print that out...it was totally inspiring....

I ask to go on a higher cap and they tell me it should go through in 2 days. After 2 days I start increasing my downloads to that of the new cap and then get suspended for going over cap. I call up and they havent upgraded my cap. They tell me I have to pay part of the bill or no reconnection. They tell me the will put in a dispute and give me my money back but after they reconnect me they direct debit the rest out of my account. Over $500 all up. Three months later still no money. I keep calling and they keep telling me the money should only be a few more days so I ring the TIO. Nice person calls me and tells me sorry about the others people at the call centre we will give you your money plus "Good Will" bonus (so no more trouble with Ombudsman). Then Vodafone calls me back and says investigation into your problem so money will take longer. Nice person I spoke to no longer works there and new person is not as nice.

Three months and no money still

27 Oct 2011 06:43:58 PM: If this was other way around they would have disconnected the phone and sent the debt collectors after me.

28 Oct 2011 08:16:26 AM: Exactly what they did to me! Except they changed my bpay ref number after the first bill (which I had set up an automatic payment on), re-populated my VF account with 9 year old data from and old '3' account i had, and sent all correspondance to the wrong address and email.. no-one even bothered calling, just d/c me and threatened me with bad credit for non payment for 4 months. After all this I had to pay the amount owing again, am chasing up the missing bpay payments ($280) with my bank (which didnt bounce) + the late payment fees for each month.

I have not been able to take or make calls for 2 days now. People ring but they can't hear me. I hear them just fine. Same if I ring people.

Vodafone insist they knew nothing about this issue until I rang even though there are 3 other people in this office having the same issue or they have a friend with the issue.

Actually, that's not true. The first Indian I spoke to told me there was an issue in Melbourne. The second one told me there are no known issues on the network. But he assured me, after some clicking on the keyboard, that my issue would be fixed in an hour.

If there is no issue then what is there to fix?

I want these arsehats to stop lieing to me. My contract expires end of this month and so does my time with them!

9 Dec 2011 12:10:58 PM: Hi, having the same problem on a blackberry. If I turn of 3G calls work OK, so must be something up with their 3G network.

9 Dec 2011 12:31:42 PM: That works I just tried it, however a bit static.

Message on my Telstra phone that the 3 roaming ends on 31st august 12 so does that mean that the 3telstra GSM roaming also finishes on this date? dont know as VHA have yet to inform customers of the end date for the 3 brand in AU.
I would appreciate VHA letting me know asap when the 3 brand finishes and the Telstra GSM roaming stops.

24 Mar 2012 04:51:06 PM: Yes - the 3 roaming ends on 31 August 12. As I have registered my mobile on the Do Not Call register then VHA cannot officially inform me! LOL. By that time I will have moved away from VHA.

20481 Someone from Somewhere else thinks vodafone is about to get into another privacy mess at 28 Dec 2011 11:50:24 PM

People at Vodafone (in India, anyway) apparently have a habit of sending data files to each other through email. Even worse, they don't do a very good job of checking the addresses. Worse yet, they don't respond when someone points out the wrong addresses. And as you all know, Vodafone insulates themselves from customer feedback, so there appears to be no way to directly contact their IT security department. The result? I've been getting hundreds of megabytes of Vodafone sales and customer data in my inbox, and it keeps on coming. Vodafone corporate security really need to find these guys (Amit Vijetra and the SHRN branch office) before the media or regulatory bodies or hackers or competitors make use of this data trove.

Overcharged by $300 because apparently I went over my data limit, how is that possible when I ALWAYS have my Data Connection turned off? Vodafone are liars, I'd rather pay 10 times more and go with Telstra.

To the person from Qld who had problems with the pathetic sales person..same thing happend to me at Vic store..ring ombudsman tell them your problem refuse to pay your bill..insist on cancelling your contract if problem is not rectified asap..it worked for me I have changed carriets and am extremely happy now..dont forget to mention the rude monkey to the ombudsman..hopefully he will lose his $10 an hour job..good luck!!

Dear Vodaphone, you suck. How is it you think it acceptable to offer the absolute cluster f@#* of a service you peddle to your suffering customers. Dropped calls, intermittent web access, delayed SMS delivery, you name it - that is when your "service" is not in a state of meltdown.

How kind it is of you to offer free SMS messages between 8AM and 8PM this Sunday in response to yet another outage shared by all on Easter Sunday.

Thank-you, but with all due respect you can take your free SMS's and shove them. If you really want to impress me, try taking the revenue you plan on forgoing with these useless free SMS's and put it toward FIXING THE BLOODY PROBLEM!

9 May 2011 01:52:38 AM: They are, was announced long ago that they are doing $500 million worth of upgrades now.

Three things are certain in life. Death, Taxes and no vodafone coverage.

What did the Vodafone executives say when Nigel Dews said he was quitting?
"you can't quit, we've got you on a 24-month contract"

One Vodafone customer calls the other. What did they say?
What does it matter they couldn't hear eachother.

16 May 2011 11:07:15 AM: same happen to me when I told them to quit my contract , as there is no reception at my work place , and there are constant call drops on the network when I am at work - the only difference is mt mobile network belongs to 3 - which is same like vodafone and 3 are now merged. I complained so many times but they are not doing anything, and I am stuck because of the 24 month contract and can not do anything.

15 Nov 2011 12:54:23 PM: i think TIO would love this story & i do hope you have gotten in contact the the "other party" as they would also like to know about this total failure of VF

16 Nov 2011 08:03:36 AM: hi the "other party" has been called he got $5 off his bills but did not know just how much of his info i have. he is not happy.

17 Nov 2011 07:09:52 PM: Well this just got better i have now had the handsets we never got added to the final bill how do i get aca contact information?

18 Nov 2011 04:25:37 PM:
Wow you have been through the VF meat grinder!

As suggested start with the TIO, the details may be found at the top of the page under the How To Complain tab.

The TIO online complaint form will take less than 10 minutes to complete, you can copy and paste what you have written above.

I have used it twice now and it is easy.

VF then have 10 working days to respond to your complaint, they contact you, suggest you get pen/paper ready and take down the callers details, name, CSR id date and time of call and what was said.

The complaints team will try to make a mutually agreed satisfactory outcome, it could be half price payments over a certain period of time or termination of contract with no exit fees.

Your decision, but my intent was to rid myself of the extremely poor VF service and I did.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

15 Dec 2011 11:25:48 AM: I had written Mammoth fail on the 15 of November and this is an update.
I have kept fighting this and started to record all of my conversations with Vodafone as the notes that Vodafone keep are completely miss leading I was having one conversation where I was told point blank that no one would have said that to me so I replayed the voice recording to her she then tried to tell me that it was because I had confused the operator!
In the end I think that I have won we had 2 accounts with Vodafone this is what I have gotten
Account 1
Waive early termination fees $772.56
Waive all owing charges (have not payed anything since this started) $325.31
All money back for hand set payment $45
Compensation $200
Account 2
Waive early termination fee $823.01
Waive all owing charges $483.06
Compensation $38

I have gotten letters to confirm that both accounts are completely clear
The $38 and $45 was credited to the credit card and the $200 will be credited to my bank with in the next 5 days it was a long fight but in the end I got what I wanted and I will never go back to Vodafone for anything!

Just keep getting spam junk email ad blurb from Vodafone for my no longer used Vodafone BB dongle, so clicked on the Unsubscribe link in their email.
Guess what, the unsubscribe service is "unavailable". Typical crap ass fail from Vodafone.
I smashed my Vodafone dongle several months ago with a large hammer, sick to death of being unable to download anything from their crapola broadband "service".
Buggar off Vodafailure.

I really really feel sorry for the international visitors that arrive to Sydney airport. Vodafone have 2 stores adjacent to arrivals a,b,c,d and their advertising on every trolley so the poor innocent people that want a local sim card think voda is strong here.
They had a few people signing up this morning.
Imagine that, your a backpacker in a foreign country, you depend on your phone for security reasons and friends / family connection 24/7 etc. Your in ANY location in Australia trying to make a call, and the phone wont work.
Imagine the feeling you would get!!
Plus westfields Miranda, on level 2 voda has literally 3 or 4 stores there all within a few minutes walk from one another.
I think voda should get the hint, excessive shops means no customers. Shut down and leave Australian shores!!
Plus, i dont think they have noticed asyet, vodaPHone!!! not vodaFone, i think the dodgy spelling should be self evident of the dodgy service.

20653 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is worked in vodafone for 1.5years in world at 20 Jan 2012 01:22:31 AM

I have worked with Vodafone as a company for nearly a year and a half. Loved Vodafone in nz the systems and plans might be different but essentially it is the same company. With the same goals to be the best total telecommunications company over the world. But Vodafone wa managers are on their own agenda and making up excuses to get rid of you if you make any query or question about anything. And also threaten you to fire you if you don't come to meetings and then make up some bullshit story that they were talking to a casual when there was no casual in the room at the time just to cover there own arse. Then also use being 5 min late a few times over 4 weeks which everyone else is in the store also if not even more so to get rid of you. Not a open workplace at all and if Vodafone is really working honestly on nps scores in wa not one person in the WA city stores except 2 are actually on that scale because of the poor area managment and store management( which of the 2 are not management on the company in this state. If asking questions about policys in company is a crime then why would I want to work.in this company here. Specialy when.in the 3 month I worked for the company I was top of fulltime sales and new to the vha aus company for the store even got gifts from customers which I didnt see anyone else in the store getting at all. Vha Australia if you want to make it in Western Australia then you need to learn that its about the customers and helping them and for them to know they can rely on you to come back to you otherwise what's the point of sending all and I.mean ALL your technical issues to a person in Mumbai because managers are too lazy to.train.staff of how to fix simple issues like software conflicts. I bet if.you went into a Vodafone WA store maybe 1 or 2 people would know about the global Vodafone site which takes 5minutes for you to help a customer to download. I'm so dissapointed in vha Australia because of the experiance ove had here that I don't even want to work for company here anymore. If being honest in telling someone to just do there job and standing up to people that like to threaten people and lie is bad then I wouldn't want to work for or trust as a customer either. If you hire Muppets then you get issues. And 6-9months down the track when your realise this manager you thought highly.of is a probably a thief. Yes I will stand there with a big fat I told you so. My character judgement is 95 percent correct. Voda you def failed on this getting rid of one of your actual nps promoters for a company if 99percebt of a team don't even know in WA that the founder of Vodafone is from Italy and visits every Vodafone branded company over the world yearly then are you really training your staff.. seriously its basics

23 Jan 2012 12:27:09 AM: And then straight after getting rid of me like not even a hour later they drive down and threaten my partner who works for the company. Which we kept secret and manager blurted out as i was handing keys over. Awesome work Perth HR....

14 Feb 2012 05:59:05 PM: i work for vodafone aswell, never had any issues. i think it might just be with that particular manager..

HELLO EVERYONE my names Lara from vodafone .. PRESS #1 if you have no reception ..PRESS #2 if you have no reception .. PRESS #3 if you have no reception ... PRESS #4 if you cant send sms .. PRESS #5 if you cant make or recieve phone calls and PRESS #6 if you dont have any reception .. we will then put you thru to a guy in india .. he will talk to you and try to calm you down .. he will lie to you and make false promises .. you will the hang up and leave us alone for a few days and then call back to got thru these steps.

17 Jun 2011 10:23:20 PM: #Press 7 if you want to have sex with lara in mumbai!!

April 2011 - spoke to Vodaphone about problems with coverage & was given 3 x 50% discounts on phone bill
and buy the end of June, 'improvements will be noticed with our upgrades"

Improvements were not noticed, in fact were worse.

1st July 2011 - (Spoke to Affan)
- called about problems and investigation raised & they would contact me in 3 working days.

8th July, 2011(Spoke to Vishal)
- Still no call, So phoned them & they are still looking into problem.
- Can't say what has been done, (if anything) they will call within next 72 hours

11th July, 2011 (Spoke to Feema)
- No Call as yet, they will contact me later today & didn't receive a callback.

12th July, 2011 (Spoke to Parvez)
- Apologise on no call back, they will call be back in 10 mins
- Receive a call 30mins later, apologise on delay in calling me back
- Network team are investigating still, may take another 5 days)
- SMS text sent 5 Hrs later stating:
SMS - "HI, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE ISSUE, & WE'LL ADVISE YOU OF ANY CHANGES, THANKS VODAPHONE"

25th July, 2011 (Spoke to Moshan)
- I called them up as no update, gave examples of my problems again will get back to me in 3 to 4 days from Networking engineers

27th July, 2011 (Spoke to Moshan)
*** receive a call from the networking engineer, saying there is no problem, with dropped calls after looking into the problem, i asked about the slow data rate & THE PHONE CALL DROPPED (PHONE HAD 3 BARS & 3G AREA)

- Called back straight away (Spoke to Niltesa) no notes saying anyone had called me, still looking into problem, if the called dropped they'll call in the next 1-2 hours. Requested to speak to a supervisor, they were busy &would call me back within 1 hr.

- Supervisor never called.

28th July, 2011 (spoke to Vishan)
- I called them & recapped problem with ref number and passed into Tech Team

(spoke to Shetal)
- recapped problem again & quoted ref number & would pass me onto the Tech Support Team

(spoke to Geyshea)
- Recapped problem, quoted ref number again, apologise on not getting call back.
- Asked why my phone call dropped out while having 3 bars & 3G , suggested it was the other persons line, i then mentioned i was talking to Vodaphones Tech Engineers who had contacted me stating that there was no problem with their coverage.
- She said need to check some things will call you back.

Receive call from Geyshea (15mins alter) - Changed investigation form investigation to a complaint & would receive
50% discount on next 3 phone bills, Updates in area are being done, so should see results soon.

WAS IT WORTH IT? - not really, i have better things to do with my time. But wanted to let people aware of this - complain enough & eventually you'll be given a discount because they are aware that their coverage is not good.

29 Jul 2011 09:48:28 PM: Well done on keeping a detailed record of your discussions with Vodafone. Will make it easier for you if you need to escalate your issues to the TIO.

Agree with you about the discounts. Not worth much. Prefer to be receiving a reliable service where we can confidently make and receive calls and text, and an internet service that is usable.

30 Jul 2011 01:35:25 AM: Lucky. When I complained about the same thing early this year I got completely ignored. No response past the automated reply. When I complained again in April, all I was offered was a reduced exit fee. They made it sound like a good deal. Just pay $300 and you get to walk away right now and KEEP YOUR PHONE! Woohoo!
Not a cent worth of discount, not a bar worth of reception.

19386 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is The worst - how to get 50% your bill for the next three months by complaining at 8 Sep 2011 06:32:55 AM

I have been so hacked off with the terrible serviec, dropped calls and slow internet I phoned up complaining on Monday. They offered me 25% my bill for the next three months. I said that's not good enough and after more wrangling I got 50% off for the next three months. I accepted but the next day I got quite annoyed with the service again and phoned up to cancel my contract. I am 5 months away from the end of my contract but told them under no certain terms that they were going to terminated my contract for free, allow me to keep my iPhone which is under contract and allow me to port my number. They tried everything in the book to keep me but I just stuck at it. The call did drop twice during all this due to the crap service and had to repeat my demands. I passed this onto several people I know and they have successfully done the same. As soon as I got out of my contract I went to Telstra and handed them the porting account number and within 10 minutes my number was ported and working on a $49 plan and 1.5Gb data which is much better than the $79 plan I was on.

Give it a go and persevere. They will try everything to keep you but I told them they could offer me a Ferrari and a trip around the world but all I wanted was a phone service that WORKED.

I was with 3 and joined Vodafone now that they have merged. I have been with them for 2 months now and have had nothing but trouble. When I received my phone in the mail it took 1 WEEK to port the number across to my new phone. In the past this has usually taken a few hrs max with other phone companies I have been with. Finally once my phone was up and working the service has been pretty crap. I was told reception would be the same as 3 but a beg to differ. Once I received my bill, it was incorrect. I rang and queried it and they said they would fix the issue but my next bill has come and it is exactly the same, still being overcharged. I rang them again and was told it would be fixed on the next bill. Lets see what happens when the next bill arrives. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.. and I still have 22 months and counting to go!! :( Cannot wait to get away from this company!!!! Service his shocking!!!

I have been overcharged, simply they lied about their free phone on the contract and charged me $5 extra on every bill + their extraordinary poor customer service
promising they'll fix it with next bill every time I called. All this with their poor network coverage and never working internet and 3rd grade handsets. After paying them 4 months on their false commitments, I have decided not to pay anymore...

18 Apr 2011 04:18:13 PM: So you don't get in trouble for not paying, file a complaint with the TIO. In the complaint you can put in the amount you are disputing in your bill and you won't have to pay until it is properly investigated. Check out of the how to complain page for more information on that.

I found that sending WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE was best, as their charter states that they have to reply in writing and that way you are not there all day talking to some wombat overseas with the risk of the call dropping out half way. At least with a letter you know how long it will take to get done.

and tell them what you would like - most likely, you want out of your contract because the poor service is unbearable. Tell them that you don't have all day to be on the phone to their technical staff and that the onus is not on you to prove that the service is poor - and in any case they are free to come around outside your residence and do some signal testing if they really want to be proactive.

Be clear and concise and outline what you feel to be appropriate resolution.

They will most likely provide a poor response, demonstrating that they haven't even read your letter properly. At this stage you elevate it to the TIO, having done your bit to resolve the problem.

If they suspend your service due to non-payment of your bill (like they did to me) you can remind them that the amount is in dispute and that they can't legally apply credit management action, but they probably still will.

Slowly but surely the TIO will contact you and ask if it's been resolved. You will probably hear from someone in the resolutions team who is actually competent and skilled in customer service, trying to help (remember that the TIO is like a gun to the head for them). In my case, they offered to cut my bill in half for the next two months, and if the service didn't improve I was free to walk - sounded reasonable. After finding the service worse than ever in the following week, I decided to call him back and advise that I wanted out now. He agreed - just asked me to return the handset.

In short, it's not hard to break your contract (from my experience) provided that you have a genuine problem, have tried to resolve it with them, are reasonably patient and methodical and involve the TIO at the right time.

Good luck

ps. rate highly if you think it's valuable - I want as many as people as possible to know how to get out of what is a very stressful time with this bogus provider!!

14 Jan 2012 05:08:36 PM: why set out with the intention of breaking contract. Contracts are legal documents and you are bound to abide by them.

Dear Cretins,
I have been an customer since 9th July 2010, when I signed up for your 24 month with phone and data deal. During this nine-month period I have encountered inadequacy of service which I had not previously considered possible, as well as ignorance and stupidity of monolithic proportions. Please allow me to provide specific details, so that you can either pursue your professional perogative, and seek to rectify these difficulties - or more likely (I suspect) so that you can have some entertaining reading material
My network connection stopped without warning, resulting in my spending an entire Saturday sitting on my fat a**e waiting for your operator to work out what I was calling about
I spent a further 257 minutes listening to your infuriating hold music, and the even more annoying robot woman telling me to look at your helpful website I alleviated the boredom by playing with my t..ticles for a few minutes - an activity at which you are no-doubt both familiar and highly adept.. I have made 9 calls on my mobile to your no-help line, and have been unhelpfully transferred to variety of disinterested individuals, who are it seems also highly skilled bollock jugglers
I have been informed that the network is available (and someone will call me back); that no network info is available (and someone will call me back); that I will be transferred to someone who knows whether or not a network available (and then been cut off); that I will be transferred to someone (and then been redirected to an answer machine informing me that your office is closed); that I will be transferred to someone and then been redirected to the irritating robot woman...and several other variations on this theme.
Doubtless you are no longer reading this letter, as you have at least a thousand other dissatisfied customers to ignore, and also another one of those crucially important t..ticle-moments to attend to. Frankly I don't care, it's far more satisfying as a customer to voice my frustration's in print than to shout them at your unending hold music.
Forgive me, therefore, if I continue. I thought T were s.it, that they had attained the holy piss-pot of godawful customer relations, that no-one, anywhere, ever, could be more disinterested, less helpful or more obstructive to delivering service to their customers. That's why I chose Voda, and because, well, there isn't anyone else is there? How surprised I therefore was, when I discovered to my considerable dissatisfaction and disappointment what a useless shower of b**tards you truly are. You are sputum-filled pieces of incompetents of the highest order. Telecom - w..nkers though they are - shine like brilliant beacons of success, in the filthy puss-filled mire of your seemingly limitless inadequacy. Suffice to say that I have now given up on my futile and foolhardy quest to receive any kind of service from you. I suggest that you cease any potential future attempts to extort payment from me for the services which you have so pointedly and catastrophically failed to deliver - any such activity will be greeted initially with hilarity and disbelief quickly be replaced by derision, and even perhaps bemused rage. I enclose two small deposits, selected with great care from my cats litter tray, as an expression of my utter and complete contempt for both you and your pointless company. I sincerely hope that they have not become desiccated during transit - they were satisfyingly moist at the time of posting, and I would feel considerable disappointment if you did not experience both their rich aroma and delicate texture. Consider them the very embodiment of my feelings, and its worthless employees. Have a nice day -, you irritatingly incompetent and infuriatingly unhelpful bunch of *****. John

30 Mar 2011 08:01:43 PM: lmao love it

30 Mar 2011 09:27:42 PM: Can't stop laughing, so well written.

31 Mar 2011 10:40:38 PM: This is a rip-off of a letter send to Optus at least 7 years ago. It did the email rounds in 2004.

2 Apr 2011 12:23:48 AM: Yeah- actually orginated in Britain complaining about NTL. Subject does say its an old complaint letter. Both classic and timely- beautiful in that it says all that needs to be said.

Dear Vodafone, you lost your credibility when you decided to hire an indian call centre to deal with angry customers. If you have angry customers before they dial 1555, why on earth would you try piss them off even more by having untrained employees who speak english but don't understand it, do your dirty work...

After waiting two weeks to receive my Broadband modem that took several endless phone calls, that resulted in having to pick up my own parcel, I had to call yet again (there's a shocker!) I was charged during the whole two weeks of NOT having my modem let alone using it. I also asked for 6GB not 500MB (is that even a valid plan?) Have some commonsense what on earth will I do with half a GB, 'receive 2 emails' and I'm over my cap?!!! Let's not even mention my internet would not work until 10 minutes ago, and that's no thanks to Vodafone!

Lara: 'HI. I'm Lara, if you would like to talk to me using your keyboard please press #1, if you would like to talk to me like normal using a few words press #2'

Me: Fuck no! #1 it is...

(Please be patient while they transfer me to 5 different departments...)

Real name unknown: 'Hi, I'm Daniel...'

(Yea alright, that's just the name you've been given to disguise your indian name)

Real name unknown: 'Can you please read out your phone number and confirm your name and birthdate?'

(WTF for? I already typed it on my keyboard while getting through to you, and you have it on your screen in front of your face!)

...After delayed responses and asking me 'how my day is' not that I have time to respond, but still I'm polite and respond.

Me: '...I purchased a mobile broadband dongle over the phone from a Vodafone representative, I didn't get it until yesterday. It has informed me I only have 500MB of Data.. Why? I'm on a 6GB plan'

Name unknown: 'hmm, okay hold on I will check for you...'

(On hold for 5 minutes I kid you not.)

Name unknown: 'Your on the infinite plan, the $99 you only receive 3GB of data'

(Are you fucking shitting me right now?...)

Me: 'No, no, MOBILE BROADBAND not my phone plan a separate transaction under the same name!. I want to know why I only have 500MB of data and I should have 6GB, which would be around 6000MB not half a GB!!!'

Name unknown: 'One moment I will check that for you...'

(Ten minutes later...no joke, I'm willing to show my call history)

Name unknown: 'Yes 500MB is half a GB, and 6000MB is 6GB, that is correct anything else I can help you with?'

(WHAT A JOKE! I did not wait 20 minutes for some clown to confirm the difference between GB and MB, Google could have answered that within a second...)

***BEEP BEEP BEEP***

Have an amazing life 'Daniel', I hope the $3.20 per hour you receive will keep you intelligent.
Vodafone, enjoy your early retirement/grave, I hate Telstra for the same customer service reason, but god do they look like a diamond standing next to you.

21 Jul 2011 09:57:49 AM: You are a racist idiot!

27 Jul 2011 10:12:18 PM: Racist Idiot - bit harsh. I am sick too of having to repeat myself or asking them to repeat things several times because I can't understand what is being said. I have hearing difficulties and accents make it more diff. for me to understand. It would be the same if it were a strong American or whatever accent. I have seen the studies that say that telemarketers (etc) from other countries use western names to make u feel more comfortable (ha!) Now isn't that a bit racist thinking that we would be more comfortable if we didn't think he was a 'Sanjeev' or whatever. Today I got transferred from Vodafone to 3 and back. Everyone I talked to was Indian. I don't have a problem with the heritage - I want jobs for Australians. Of course I COULD have been talking to three Australians who migrated from India but I think that unlikely.

6 Aug 2011 09:22:22 PM: No, thats not racist at all. It's not unreasonable to ask for a good service for what your paying. So what, bringing up the word "indian" makes you racist? Your an idiot

10 Aug 2011 05:20:23 PM: I'm Indian, but I don't "sound" Indian, but I can tell you that sometimes the accent can really grate on my nerves...but I agree, it wouldn't make any difference what accent it was. The lines/connections to customer service are always crap, compound that with the fact that you are on hold and/or transfered numerous times only to repeat your story like an LP...it's generally not a happy place that you're at in the first place so it is easy to get frustrated with a rep of Vodaphone. And that's what they are - a representative. It is the upper eschalons of companies like Vodaphone that make the decision to have call centres out of Australia. I can't see the current situation changing from outsourcing call centres overseas back to Australia happening soon, and therefore these jobs will remain overseas. In the meantime can I suggest an alternative - go into a Vodaphone shop - they should be able to I went into one to change my plan just so that I didn't have to be on hold, transfered around etc.

My only issues with your post is the second last line of your post...."Have an amazing life 'Daniel', I hope the $3.20 per hour you receive will keep you intelligent." This just makes you sound like an ass and unintelligent. I know you've been frustrated beyond belief, but there's no need to be ugly about 'Daniel' and his life, hourly rate and intelligence. And by the way - my name is Charmaine...rather western don't you think....my last name's rather western too. I was born with that name....and 'Daniel' could have been born with that name as well. There are LOTS of Indians with 'western'...or more correctly biblical names. Yes, there are some studies about telemarketing/call center tactics, but this strategy of changing names is not news.

If you can say that Telstra looks like a diamond next to Vodaphone, then you have yet to experience the bullshit I've had to deal with - and you should see the collective times of my call histories with them...err total all up to resolve 1 problem was 6+ hours!! All these companies the same Telstra, Optus, AAPT, Primus...and by the way, there WORST experiences I've had to date has been with Foxtel - yes I know it's not in the telco mobile content that's being discussed, but my point is about their customer care which is in Australia where you get to speak to a good olde Aussies who holds a call center job in OZs is absolutely SHIT. Go into a Vodaphone shop.

I have been a Vodafone customer for about 4 years. In that time, I have been consistently faced with the most incrediblly incompetent and infuriating service I have ever experienced in my life. Dealing with dropped calls, no coverage, bungled payments is mind bogglingly infuriating but pales in comparison to going through the process of speaking to a Vodafone consultant in India, which takes an hour each time when you actually get through, and they have no record of previous agreements reached for the account on earlier extended calls. Just today, I had my phone cut off out of NOWHERE after calling vodafone on Monday to get a payment extension until Friday, which was granted. I actually paid my bill onWednesday - but SURPRISE, my phone is blocked by Thursday morning. Vodafone is a joke and a failure! I am a peaceful and relaxed person most of the time. My home was recently unfortunately burgled and we lost most of our valuable items. The next day, the police were trying to call me ALL DAY - they called me 10 TIMES - and although I had full service on my mobile, none of the calls came through. I know this is something to do with vodafone Because other people tell me the same thing REGULARLY. With 100 percent honesty, I can say my anger and frustration at being burgled was only a fraction of the sheer frustration I went through going through a run of the mill conversation with a vodafone employee the next day who (surprise!) had no record of a $100 credit being applied to my account a month earlier after I complained about the issues with coverage and being overcharged. Thanks for wasting another few hours of my life Vodafone, for NOTHING. I honestly don't have anything in my life that makes my blood boil like this. Vodafone is a DISGRACE and an embarrassment to our nation. They have lost yet another longstanding customer that would have stayed if they didn't so consistently royally screw things up for $200 per month. EXTORTION.

18 Nov 2011 04:36:48 PM: The lesson here for everyone is to make sure you get the CSR's full name, his VF id, the incident number of the call (yes they do have them), record the date and time and what was said.

Using these few simple steps does focus their mind set and when I have used this method the CSR's are slightly taken aback but they are then aware you also have a VF record of the call..............unless they cut you off before giving the required information.........yes that has happened to me as well..........

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

3 Jan 2012 04:45:57 PM: Try AMAYSIM $39.90 deal. It is unreal. You need your own phone. Sounds as if you have paid out too much to these incompetent disgraceful people already. Yep, when it all gets too much for them to answer they cut you off. Had that one too.

I just got in-principle agreement to be released from my contracts with Vodafone and feel so relieved that I don't have to put up with the poor products and service for any longer...yet still frustrated as hell that I am paying for a product which simply doesn't work and has caused me soooo much inconvenience and grey hairs.

While this site is great, I would like to do more to stop others getting caught in the Vodafone net. We need something more tangible....a nationwide-sticker campaign...advertisements in newspapers, social media, viral videos...maybe all of the above. There is so much anger out there and if we can harness it then we have awesome power. I myself would happily put up a couple of hundred dollars of my own money just to know that I had stopped half a dozen other customers being sucked into this whole sham company.

Email me if you have ideas on how we could do this, or want to help such a campaign.

(Contact Details Removed as per posting instructions)

Rate this post highly if you agree with the idea, so that it will have greater exposure.

7 May 2011 08:47:32 PM: I emailed you haven't heard a thing. Let's do this!

internet connection not working properly all the time
calls end up getting -connection error- even when I have full bar of signal
always unable to establish a phone call -and they still charges it!!!!
very bad connection all the time!!
no connection/ or very bad connection or can't call when inside building

As a employee of Vodafone in the contact centre, I feel for the many people who I deal with everyday over the same issues. Thankfully im with optus, and have been for 15 years and no way am I switching just because of my employer.

Having worked in call centres since the begining of time I take pride when countless times a day I hear "Thank you! FINALLY some one who can speak english and understand my point of view" Sadly im not superwoman and cant take all your calls personally. I can assure you that you get nothing short of 100% empathy,respect and fantastic service from me.

I wish the same could be said about my co workers. I do liken the place to working at a zoo sometimes and am in total horror over the rudeness and attitude I hear them coughing out.

On behalf of my co workers, im sorry for the crap service you recieve. On behalf of my employer im sorry for the crap service and "were working on it" just isnt good enough!

Please dont think all call centre employees are crap, there are good ones out there (like me).

When you say "i want to disconnect! you guys suck" and you hear the silence on the other end of the phone, rest assured I heard you and im not politely ignoring you, Im just not allowed to say "Hell Yea! Totally agree! Go Optus man!" because I have a home loan to pay and those words would see me in the unemployment line.

Oh and a final note from the inside.....I hate Lara, We all hate Lara..no Vodafone employee (except maybe the idiot who created her) likes Lara!

3 Apr 2011 04:52:34 PM: I hope you don't feel to bad most of us are upset with vodalost and the lies, and yes customer care sucks, but as Australians we expect help and the true, we would be glad to talk to an Aussie who can tell it as it is to another Australian, good or bad. But when you deal with vodamumbai who no fault to the good people in india, as they could only act on the little training they receive to deal with Australians. Vodadodge have lowered there standards by not monitoring what Mumbai tells Aussie customers...so saying that I'm sorry if you feel bad and I respect you for speaking out. As far as anything else goes vodasuck has failed you at the call centre, us as customers. Come on Nigel dews CEO of vodadirt of Australia, have the balls to join in what has been stated and let us know there is a voice behind vodaslack. After all this call centre employee has got guts.

Wot the hell.. phone cant make calls! cant have a converstaion with out it droping out! cant facebook at all!!.. I called LARA & spent 45mins on hold...
See ya later Vodafail!!!! oh & by the way phones says every 5 mintues network lost..

have finally left!!! how funny they sent me out a survey to complete, but i never heard anything else from them cant even open my final bill cause its on their myvodafone site and my account is closed so cant log in, figure that out...

copy of what i wrote to them:

"lousy reception.

being lied to about how they were improving the network.

disorganisation, incompetence with billing, for example:

not billed for 2 months from direct debit, then billed for 3 months in one hit...

then when wanting to cancel;
1) calling and not being able to get through,
2) leaving an email on the site and not getting a reply
3) visiting a shop and being told to call the help line!!!

i then went ahead and ported my number to other provider.

then got texts and emails from vodafone saying they were experiencing a large volume of enquiries and would be getting back to me... which never happened.

then receiving abill for $150 in the text of an email but with no attachment. I tried going onto the website but of course my phone number wouldnt work as log in as it was no longer with vodafone!

so i went into the shop and asked if they could print out my bill so i knew what it was for. they couldnt log into my account either and said i'd have to call vodafone.... wtf!!!

so i call and left a message as they were too busy as usual. some guy calls back and says he'll take care of it and email my bill out within a week. 3 weeks later nothing...

so even if the service or reception was adequate, and the price more competitive, i still would not stay just due to the lack of customer service and thier ability to stuff everything up constantly!

no regrets and never coming back"

30 Jan 2012 06:37:05 PM: I empathise with you.

You know what?
they will probably send you a bill to say you owe them mega$$$$$$$$$$
I have come to the conclusion that you get the TIO to close the account .
There are many ,many,cases wher a customer has demanded their accounts closed and the customer NOservice Curry Muncher from MUMBAI has said yes it is closed.

Then you get another round of bills next month,you close it again,they say yes it is closed,THEN YOU GET ANOTHER ROUND OF BILLS!!!!!

VODAFONE MUMBAI NEEDS A NUCLEAR ASSISTANT !!!(shape of a torpedo should be fine)

So we have a Telstra outage in our area affecting our adsl service, coming up to 48 hours now. As a backup (as I am an IT support Guy) I have a Vodafone 6GB pocket WiFi, which as a result of the Telstra Outage we are using quite heavily now. To ensure the 6GB cap is not exceeded, we log into the website to check our usage to be presented with <1mb used of 6GB. Knowing that this can't be right we ring Vodafone and ask what our usage is and the guy at the other end (we have trouble communicating with each other) tells us that its less than 1mb, so we tell him this cant be true and he tells us that the web site isnt working correctly so I say, "so how do we check our usage" and he says, "the updates to the site are 5 days in arrears so you will see the usage in 5 days" and I explain that we are using it heavily and dont want to exceed the cap, so he says "be careful".

The mess that I am in is how disgusting customers are to us when majority of the employees that work for VHA truly have the best interests of the customer at heart. I don't understand why people think that we live to make our own lives harder by purposely trying to sabotage a customer's experience, when 9 times out of 10, we'd rather not see you again - this demonstrates great customer service, we served all your needs at the initial point of sale.

Yesterday I had a frightening confrontation with a customer that refused to follow company policy with a pre-paid mobile. Instead of complying with company rules, he continued to argue with me and wanted me to prove the policy of which states that I was right in saying that I had to sell him a pre-paid sim with a pre-paid phone REGARDLESS if he was already a Vodafone user. The reason why we do this is so an account is created for the phone in which covers warranty for two years for the handset and when the account is created, it generates an Australian Gov't form in which states that the ID you have given us is correct and current, and to make sure criminal activity with the use of pre-paid sim cards is controlled as much as possible. I had the customer's best interests at heart, yet the customer thought he was right.

He continued to swear at me, raise his fists and threaten me personally all because I wanted to secure an account for the phone incase it was faulty - it was a Nokia after all. He persisted to yell and started to come around the counter to scare me into complying to what he wished. I made the customer by the sim card anyway and strongly advised him to come back into the store when he had calmed down to set up the account or to call pre-paid care. He continued to yell at me and call me offensive names so I left it up to him. I was shaking at that stage because his wife then proceeded to come around the counter also.

If you refuse to read the disclaimer or refuse us the patience for us to explain the disclaimer and you sign it anyway- that's your fault. If you chose to refuse such service which I offered this customer and you lose your receipt - don't come ranting and raving about how you weren't able to gain a proof of purchase of our database because you didn't want to comply. If you still chose to go with a handset even though I have explained its faults that are world known - go right ahead. I am so tired of customers thinking that they know better us when they don't even give the time to consider what they're getting themselves into half the time.

When there is a piece on Vodafone headlining the news reports, the next day is just hell. I'm really getting tired of customers who are trying to use the network problems as a way of getting out of their contracts with a full waiver. Please leave customer care to deal with the customers that have REAL and unfortunate network problems. I'm tired of morons wasting our time and just jumping on the band wagon where there are certain postcodes that are dealing with no network - not just one or two calls that disconnect every few days. No wonder these customers with horrible service can't get through to customer care - some people are just trying to get compensation with no particular newtwork problem.

Sim cards become faulty and corrupt, phones become faulty or are faulty at point of sale without our knowledge and sometimes the traffic is too high to have full signal or recommended speeds. These are out of Vodafone's 'control' and most certainly retail staff.

Honestly, customers have to start taking responsibility for their actions and show a bit more compassion to retail staff. Don't take us saying "I'm sorry but you'll have to call customer care to resolve this issue" as us not caring - this is what we've been told to do. Also, if we tell you that our database is down - it's down okay! It's not that we can't be bothered, it's because we actually can't login to our systems which is just as frustrating for us because we're bored out of our minds. Two weeks ago our database was on fallback for 24 hours and a customer came in that needed a sim swap for a lost sim card. I began to apologise for our database being down and he told me to f off and that I was hopeless before I had time to finish my sentence. I was going to give him a sim card, take his details and perform the sim swap for him when the database was up and running the next morning. Customers don't even give us a chance anymore which is really upsetting.

I have ordered that many customers to leave our stores because of the aggression and disgusting manner in which customers are treating retail staff. Honestly, don't bother telling us at the end of a long rant that it's not "our fault" when you point in our faces and call us hopeless. Remember that we all have phones too and that we're contacted to all different telcos in which we have received poor customer service as well.

This is just as shattering to us as it is to you. I adore working for this company and it's such a shame that this has happened. We don't want customers to be unsatisfied because we're the ones that have to deal with the repercussions. I hope this goes away sooner than later so I can enjoy my job again and give customers great customer service. The same day I was threatened by a customer, I was told by five other customers that they've never received customer service like I gave them. We're not all bad you know. Please remember the more respectful you are to staff, the greater lengths we will go to resolve your issues the best we can.

Also, customers need to realise that 3 and Telstra share networks, as well as Vodafone and Optus share networks. At one point or another, I am certain that you will have poor service at one point or another regardless of what telco you go with.

9 Jan 2011 07:26:32 PM: The VHA staff member that posted this is a complete idiot. Your company has the WORST customer support line EVER! If VHA wants to offer real support, how about allowing us (your "customers") to be able to solve issues in store, rather then saying "you have to contact customer support" and wait 2 hours on the phone. I pay $80 per month to Vodafone and it is by far the WORST Telco I have ever dealt with. And no the sales people in the store are not sorry, if you were, you would stop signing people up with disclosing your network is having issues, exactly what happened to me.
I joined up 2 weeks before Christmas.

VHA continues to sell these unlimited plans and jam more people on their already broken mobile network. Non-disclosure and misrepresentation is what Vodafone should be sued for. I have joined the class action and will be doing everything in my power to get out of my contract and ensure Vodafone Australia are held accountable.

9 Jan 2011 07:29:06 PM: Lets hope the 12,000 Vodafone customers that are complaining aren't all just wasting hours on the phone to Vodafone's woeful customer support, as in store staff cannot do anything! I urge the entire Australian population who is on Vodafone join the class action law suit!

9 Jan 2011 07:34:34 PM: I am the person that posted the 2nd post, and oh by the way I went in to Brisbane Queen st mall store, spoke to the same customer service representative that signed me up, and I asked what was going on with Vodafone's useless network and he said, and I quote " I know its really shit at the moment, the only thing you can do is contact Customer support via phone, they will tell you to try some tests that obviously won't work, you can then open a case with the TIO, hand your phone and sim back and get out of your contract that way" HAHA FAIL!

9 Jan 2011 07:38:46 PM: Regardless of how angry a customer is, they have no right to threaten physical violence or personally attack a sales associate.

9 Jan 2011 07:39:05 PM: You people that have replied to this poster absolutely disgust me......

I cannot believe how rude and disrespectful the people in this country are getting.

9 Jan 2011 07:39:47 PM: Hi Staff Member,

It's unfortunate that you have to deal with angry and upset customers on a daily basis. As someone who has previously worked in retail and support I can understand just how scary it can be sometimes. However I think your anger should be directed at Vodafone for creating a situation where customers are that angry and support is that hard to come by that they resort to anger out of frustration.

Customers are having network or billing problems and try to contact 1555 repeatedly. They wait on hold for hours, are transfered to different departments and receive little help they have no choice but to go to the only place where they can talk to vodafone staff. Your job might be to sell phones but to the public you are Vodafone. The store says you're Vodafone, the uniform says you are Vodafone and at the moment you are the only person from Vodafone that customers can reach.

Some people are unreasonable and angry but nobody enjoys being that way. I'm sure all customers would rather be happy with their service and thank you for your help. Sadly many people are not and that is a reflection of what Vodafone has done the past few months, the way they have handled their litany of problems and the contempt with which they've treated their customers. Maybe it's time to think about what you actually adore in Vodafone.

We at Vodafail do not condone any violence against Vodafone staff and we have repeatedly reminded people to be respectful in all situations.

Thanks

Adam

9 Jan 2011 07:43:28 PM: Clearly not everything can be solved in store. I applaud the staff member who wrote this! What store are you from, I would love to be served by you!!

Think about this, retail staff are not technicians and cannot fix your network. So clearly there are things you must call customer care for. I also agree with people just wanting to complain and get out of paying money. You are holding up the phone line for a legitimate customer concern, I have no reception at all on my business phone and I HAVE TO WAIT 3 hours on the phone because of you stupid people!!

9 Jan 2011 07:47:29 PM: I too work for VHA, i am agreeing with some things you say - customers do have to remember that we are people too - we may wear a red and white shirt each day, but we know EVERYTHING that is going on too, these problems wont be fixed over night, its a shame there are some slack as all hell staff working with us, but please give some of us the time of day. Also with the whole Vodafone's security breach - funny how they forgot to mention telstra also use the exact same system as us.
Anyone notice alot of this has started from when Vodafone released our $45 cap, Optus immediately took vodafone to court so we couldn't sell them because the offer would destroy them.
I will agree - network isn't great but it wont be fixed over night, we are after all merging an entire network onto another network - and with 11,000 people calling to disconnect you cant expect to get through straight away. The guys in Mumbai are working 6 day rosters at the moment.
We know the problems, and us guys in retail are trying to help, it doesn't help when we get over 100 customers coming in a day immediately saying " im about to join the class action law suit against vodafone if you dont fix my problem" 9 times out of 10 we do.
Come see us in store, we will go to the upmost lengths to help you, just be civil.

9 Jan 2011 07:49:40 PM: Well said Adam!

I do feel for the Staff Member that made the original post, but as a customer facing staff member representing Vodafone, you have to expect customers will take out their frustrations on you when they can't get through to the main people responsible for this whole mess. I do not and will not condone customers getting angry at any forward facing staff member, but unfortunately as Adam pointed out above, you are Vodafone to that customer and everything Vodafone seem to be doing at the moment doesn't seem to be resolving these problems in the short term. So customers are getting angry and the unfortunate bi-product of that is they are taking it out on you.

I hope things do get better for you, and Thanks for dropping by to make your post. I do feel for what you must be going through, but again I think Adam makes a great point that you need to direct your Anger towards Vodafone (ie the people responsible for this mess), and try to maybe sympathise with your customers a little more.

Best of luck.

9 Jan 2011 07:51:57 PM: I'm sorry but maybe if your company actually lived up to the customers expectations and provided the services we pay for people wouldn't benso agitated. I understand it isn't your fault directly but if you're sick of copping abuse why don't you all complain to your employer and maybe they'll get their arse into gear and do something.

Maybe you can also tell your CEO also to take the customer care centre out of India so we can actually speak to someone who we can understand and can understand us.

You also say people are just jumping on the bandwagon to get out of their contracts free of charge and don't really have any real problems like some other customers. It doesn't matter how many times a customers calls drop out per day or week all that matter is that the calls are in fact dropping out and your company cannot support the customers and are in breach of every part of their contracts. We pay for a service which your company does not provide!!!

9 Jan 2011 07:52:02 PM: And Adam, i ask you a question

If you have worked in retail

Then i would love for you too work through this - because of your website i have team members not coming to work because they get threatened by customers, work morale is at an all time low. And people are quiting left right and center.

I wish you had never made this website, you have made me hate my job.
Vodafone was an amazing company too work for, now we get abused, yelled at, every day.
I had a customer THROW his phone at me the other day.

I hope you got what you wanted.

9 Jan 2011 07:53:05 PM: To the above poster, maybe there are SOME (I think small number) of people taking advantage of the situation, but logically, wouldn't you say most people complaining WOULD have legitimate concerns, just like yourself? If people are happy, why would they spent all that time trying to get out of their contract - they would only end up with no contract and have to go with another provider who is likely more expensive than Vodafone. Isn't it more likely that there are just so many people with legitimate concerns that Vodafone's telephone services cannot keep up?

I also do feel sorry for Vodafone staff and some people with violent tendencies are a real disgrace. I hope you stay strong and safe through this, but I agree with Adam in that your company has not supported you properly. I hope it changes, but calling customers 'fail' doesn't help the situation much either.

9 Jan 2011 07:56:50 PM: I dont agree with saying out customers are fail in the slightest. Its just such a shame, us the staff are the face of vodafone and majority of us arent bad people, it really is a huge drainer going into work every day though, we know what to expect but for the first time today i had a customer say he felt sorry for us. I know i personally try to go to the absolute end to help every customer i can, it really is just a shame this has all happened.

9 Jan 2011 07:57:11 PM: What a whining little sook you are (the original poster of this message). You're just a stupid little pawn in this incompetent company who says they love vodafone so much because you want everybody to come in and sign up for your ridiculous plans that aren't even worth half of what they claim. You are dirty on the masses of people who are trying to leave in droves because for every customer you sign up onto a contract that leaves the network....you lose your money from Vodafone. I hope your business goes bankrupt as well as all of Vodafone. For screwing people around you deserve nothing less. Oh and for the record, I have a Telstra mobile for work and I can honestly say I have NEVER seen it drop not even ONE BAR of reception in nearly 18 months of using it. With Vodafone....while I don't need to say anymore.

9 Jan 2011 07:57:25 PM: To the person that posted "because of your website i have team members not coming to work because they get threatened by customers, work morale is at an all time low. And people are quiting left right and center"

Have you ever thought that it may actually be the company that you worked for that has caused this problem? All Adam did in my opinion is show your customers they are not alone. He should be applauded for what he has done, not shot down by some misguided blame game.

My two cents worth.

9 Jan 2011 08:00:54 PM: I feel so sorry for this staff member! People are really rude these days and wont take no for an answer. People think that they are always right and demand whatever they want. All companies have procedures, if this was optus or telstra, the same would happen.

NEWS FLAAAAAAAAAAASH!! ALL TELCO CALL CENTRES ARE OVERSEAS AND VODAFONE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A CALL CENTRE IN AUSTRALIA TOO!!

9 Jan 2011 08:03:10 PM: to "9 Jan 2011 09:57:11 PM". You are the people the original poster is clearly referring to!

9 Jan 2011 08:03:56 PM: How about Vodafone communicates professionally to their customers, instead of waiting for some frustrated person such as Adam create a website to get some recognition from Vodafone that they do actually have MASSIVE problems in both network and customer (phone) service.

I will never threaten a VHA staff member, I realise it is not your fault, it is the directors, project managers, capacity planners that are at fault here.

Also VHA for continuing to sign people up with non-disclosure and misrepresentation that the service Vodafone is "selling" to the customer is not fit for purpose and does not perform to the standard that is stated via Vodafone.

If Vodafone said, we have network issues, our customer phone support is second rate, but we do have cheap plans then I would understand. You provide an excellent product, alongside with excellent customer service and support and yep all for paying $80 each month.

Sell a customer a product or service that doesn't work or continually has issues, ask them to call the customer support line, (not informing them of the wait times and poor phone support) and you will get very angry and frustrated customers, no it may not be an individual staff members fault, but you represent a company that in my eyes should be ordered by the ACCC to cease all new contracts until these ongoing issues are resolved, simple as that.
Get real, this is business, not a "give us a break" because our network is of 3rd world quality.

9 Jan 2011 08:04:25 PM: To 9:52:02pm, I'm sure plenty of people (at Voda) wish Adam didn't make this website, but many many people are glad for it as well. When Adam made this site, he was frustrated at the lack of service he was receiving and was pretty shocked at how Vodafone conducts itself (Not retail staff, not anyone personally, but the management of the company as a whole, and yes, the offshore call centres).

The fact this website caught on is due to so many others experiencing the same problems (and of course, the media exposure).

I hope everyone at Vodafone can at least have the sense and HUMILITY to see that it is the company's decisions and actions that is ultimately making your jobs difficult right now, not Adam making this website.

Also, let's not forget which is the big corporation with lots of money, resources and lawyers, and which is the consumer who up until this website and media attention, had no voice.

- Not Adam, but someone who supports him -

9 Jan 2011 08:04:27 PM: You're just a franchise, you are a nobody. You may have thought you had a great business 5-10 years like many of your shoddy neighbouring associates, but that is all you are. You cannot help a customer if they have a network issue. You cannot do anything. Like the poster at 9:57:11pm wrote, you just hope you keep getting paid your commissions from vodafail.

9 Jan 2011 08:08:24 PM: The CEO made clear the issues and updates the website as networks are updated, checkout www.vodafone.com.au

9 Jan 2011 08:10:53 PM: I work in the member services department of a very large insurance company and I get yelled at and abused for the silliest things like calling an existing member about their current policy and I just happened to call them when they are busy. Sure I don't like it but you take what comes with the job. If my company was providing a shit service then I would accept the fact that I may have to cop some flack for that. Please do not blame the customers for being irritated, blame your employer who is putting you in this situation and not giving you a way to help the customers resolve their issues.

Adam has done nothing wrong by creating this site and quite frankly even if he didn't you'd still have customers coming in upset because they are paying for a service they are not getting. Please see it from our point of view too.

9 Jan 2011 08:11:20 PM: what the hell 10:04:27 PM. All vodafone stores are owned by the company and are not franchised. I suggest that you know your stuff before you comment. Also, VHA employees get barely any commission anyway

9 Jan 2011 08:12:53 PM: I dont think the staff blame the customers for being angry, just maybe take a chill pill before you visit the store and rage at the poor retail assistant for vodafones network

9 Jan 2011 08:13:22 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 09:52:02 PM: I think there are many other reasons why your colleagues feel the way they do and Adam and vodafail.com are not one of them. Look upon vodafail.com as a conduit for the consumer to have their say, had they not had the chance to vent on vodafail.com things may be considerably worse on the shop floor. Good luck to you and thanks for posting on vodafail.com

9 Jan 2011 08:14:21 PM: 9 Jan 2011 10:11:20 PM ... You might need to get your facts right. To quote a store owner "Most of VHA's store are franchised so im not sure what the implications or possibility of having a system like that are..."

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1614444&p=5#r97

9 Jan 2011 08:14:43 PM: If you must know, we actually dont make the same commission we used too, the people who stayed with vodafone and continue working for them actually enjoyed there job.Our pay structure is ALOT worse. And too say we are no bodys , what ever makes you think people will want to help you with that attitude?
And no we cant go out and climb up a tower and see why its not working but we can help, and speak to people directly in cust care and keep logs on the problems you are facing.
But frankly , people who come in with that exact same attitude you have, its a little hard keeping a smile on our dial and doing those things for you when you think we are doing it all for commission.

9 Jan 2011 08:15:33 PM: The CEO can go stick it. Since when does saying "We apologies for any inconvinience caused" make it alright to offer dismal service and a product that does not work, yet Vodafone continue to advertise and sign up people to a service that is incapable of even loading a simple webpage in a CBD postcode standing outside. FAIL.

9 Jan 2011 08:16:52 PM: 10:11:20 yes you are an idiot too. Mcdonalds stores are owned by the Mcdonalds company. A vodafone store signs up a customer to a 24 month contract. Who gets paid - Vodafone....who else gets a percentage of the profits - the store owner. The customer walks out of his contract, what happens to your monthly percentage payment from Vodafail when they are no longer a customer? You don't get it. Seems like anyone can get a phone business - look at all the dodgy Dago's you see in the shopping centres. I love it when they lose money - wankers!

9 Jan 2011 08:18:20 PM: Yes, even you store owners have been f@*ked over by your masters....cutting your payments down. Wake up, you're being screwed to. They don't care about you or the rest of us.

9 Jan 2011 08:19:17 PM: NO ONE OWNS THE COMPANY OWNED STORES, there is only a manager, they do not own the store! Dealers sell all company's!

9 Jan 2011 08:21:57 PM: 10:16:52 PM, seems like you dont have your facts straight. Do you work for vodafone?

9 Jan 2011 08:22:25 PM: You wanna open a VF store, you do it like every other franchise, you pay the money to set it up and you follow THEIR RULES. You put your stupid posters up they give you and you try and sell plans to customers and hey "you want a shitty leather case with that phone?"

9 Jan 2011 08:23:22 PM: Why the F@*k would I want to work for a stupid company like VF? I am pining to see them go under and all the Dago franchises with them.

9 Jan 2011 08:23:25 PM: actually no

9 Jan 2011 08:24:23 PM: I think, correct me if I'm wrong unemployment is at 5.5% (somewhere like that) and if I was a Vodafone staff member, I'd tell the company to go and stick it and go and work for another company that actually provides a product that I could confidently sell to my customers and back it up with great service. Stop whinging about furious customers, they have a reason to be furious, and quite frankly if I was a sales person for Vodafone, I would encourage all my staff to leave and go and work for an honest company. My two cents worth.

9 Jan 2011 08:24:49 PM: 10:23:22 PM, im not sure why you are even here :/ Stop being so rude. Its people like you that clog up the phone lines for upset customers

9 Jan 2011 08:25:57 PM: Don't forget to upsell them a stupid car charger that doesn't work with every sale. If you give it away free, it comes out of your pocket.

9 Jan 2011 08:29:57 PM: Is there an echo in here??? Can everyone just take a deep breath..........hold it..........breath away. Calm down please, it is late we are all feeling tired, let the debate continue but without the name calling please, nice constructive debate please. vodafail mod.

9 Jan 2011 08:34:10 PM: "People like me that clog up the phone lines for upset customers" haha this quote just sums up the intelligence of the person that posted this comment. If I didn't have a problem with my VodaGay service in the CBD! I sure wouldn't waste 3 hours on hold (last call to Vodafone Support)just to "clog" up other complaining customers. Idiot.

9 Jan 2011 08:36:10 PM: I am relly against racism and many people here would be subject to discrimmination here, post 10:29:11 PM should definitely be deleted. He is clearly upset, but critising a racial group does not fix your problem mate.

9 Jan 2011 08:37:02 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 10:14:21 PM - No whoever that person was is wrong. Vodafone used to contract third party dealer channels to operate the stores on their behalf. Once Hutchins Australia and Vodafone AUS merged to form VHA all these stores were brought from the third party dealers so VHA would have more control over them and customers experience.......yes I work for VHA in their AUS call centre.

9 Jan 2011 08:37:41 PM: 10:34:10, clearly you are not a person who clogs up the line but people who just ring up and want to get out of their contract with a full waiver because they think they get to keep their iphone 4. Idiot.

9 Jan 2011 08:37:47 PM: All some of us is asking - please treat the staff with the respect we deserve.
Thank you.

9 Jan 2011 08:39:02 PM: Thank you all for your input, I have moderated the comment at 10:29:11 PM for racial slurs. Please refrain from racial insults and be sensible in your comments. - Adam

9 Jan 2011 08:39:10 PM: I find it very amusing that there are people who come onto this website who defend Vodafone when 99.9% of the people on this site are against VF, especially this section.

9 Jan 2011 08:40:29 PM: well said.

9 Jan 2011 08:40:39 PM: Sorry Adam.....it's hard not to get angry online just like we all have over the phone. It's obvious how much this network burns people up inside.

9 Jan 2011 08:41:15 PM: thanks ADAM!!

9 Jan 2011 08:44:34 PM: I'll treat Vodafone with the same respect they treat me! Take my money and provide nothing but service trouble, no 3G, non-disclosure of network problems upon signing me up, misrepresentation of your product that doesn't work. Why should I just bare with you? I couldn't care less if Vodafone was merging with God, your product / service that you continue to sell to customers, DOES NOT WORK, and then all you can do is redirect customers to a call centre with dreadful wait times. Vodafone deserves everything it gets!

9 Jan 2011 08:46:44 PM: Vodafone does work in a majority of areas, this is a misrepresentation

9 Jan 2011 08:59:32 PM: HAHAHA My friend just replied to my SMS I sent yesterday at 9pm.....He just received it now 11:00pm tonight......

9 Jan 2011 09:00:58 PM: How about you TIO staff member get the ACCC involved. This country has 12 THOUSAND people complaining about how a major company is treating them and providing products and services that are not "fit for purpose" If Vodafone was doing such a good job and informing people, providing additional customer support, via the stores that can solve peoples problems, as well as the horrible "customer support" call wait times, then the 12,000 people would not be on this website. You need to understand we (the Australian taxpayer) pay your Govt body to stop companies doing this and we need the ACCC and TIO to step in with force. Until such action, you will get furious and outrageous complaining customers venting their frustration on this site and will continue to argue with VHA staff. Vodafone should instruct all VHA staff not to post on Vodafail.com, it only fuels the fire and pisses more customers off.

9 Jan 2011 09:02:00 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 10:53:39 PM,

Whilst I am 100% against everything Vodafone as a company does atm, due to the amount of network errors and everything associated with it. I do feel for your position (and the other customer facing staff), and have alot of respect for what you must be having to deal with atm. I know it must be tuff, and one way or the other this will eventually play out. I hope for yours and all of the staffs sake as well as the customers it is sooner rather than later. I still have the utmost respect for this sites creator, whilst I understand this site must be hurting the company you represent, once this site was created your customers realised they are not alone. It annoys me when one of the staff above blame this sites creator for his staff not coming to work, because at the end of the day this site brought everyone together, it is the company you guys represent that caused this fiasco and hopefully they can sort it out really quick. Unfortunately I just can't see that happening and as such feel for what you guys and girls must be having to deal with.

Regards,
Vodafail Moderation Team.

9 Jan 2011 09:05:09 PM: Thank you mr moderator

9 Jan 2011 09:05:27 PM: Everyone should lodge a complaint with the TIO no matter how small it is. This way it costs money for Vodafone.

9 Jan 2011 09:06:47 PM: If I was a VHA staff member, I'd be on seek.com and handing my resume in at Telstra and Optus tomorrow. No way could I sell such an awful service. I'm too honest person for that.

9 Jan 2011 09:10:46 PM: Telstra and optus are just as bad

9 Jan 2011 09:14:11 PM: Do you see a TelstraFail or OptusFail website with 12,000 posts on it? Nope. Class action law suit against them? Nope. 4 million privacy issues breached? Nope. Yeah, seem like they are just as bad. haha FAIL.

9 Jan 2011 09:14:53 PM: 9 Jan 2011 11:10:46 PM ...If you are talking about coverage and network performance I disagree 100% . I have used all 3 all around Australia for a long time, and when it comes to overall coverage and performance Telstra's NextG Network is miles ahead of the competition. However I do agree with most you pay a little more for that service. Second would be the Optus Network, they have almost as good a coverage, but the performance of web browsing can be a little sluggish at times. However the benefit is they are usually a little cheaper than Telstra. Finally you have Vodafone, and whilst they are the cheapest option, I am sure I don't need to repeat the 11,000 posts here that basically tell you the coverage and performance is below par (especially of the last few months).

9 Jan 2011 09:17:52 PM: I wouldn't care if Telstra had monkeys working in customer service as I would never have to ring them about a fault with the service I have a telstra mobile also. I agree on optus being just as bad.

9 Jan 2011 09:18:52 PM: If Vodafone Public Relations had any brains they would have got the CEO to issue a notice to all staff advising them NOT to post on www.vodafail.com! Another Vodafone managment FAIL haha. Keep fuelling the fire VHA staff. Tops! Good work!

9 Jan 2011 09:18:56 PM: Telstra wants to be a monopoly and this site is making the telstra CEO very happy

9 Jan 2011 09:26:01 PM: The sooner Vodafone goes under the better. At least it will teach the staff that maybe signing up customers to a product/service that isn't fit for purpose probably isn't such an honest thing to do and the company that you work for (Vodafone) is the one that is making your life at work hell. Do yourself a favour and jump ship, probably get a pay rise as well :)

9 Jan 2011 09:30:29 PM: Vodafone have 4 million users. Only 12000 have an issue

9 Jan 2011 09:32:17 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:30:29 PM , It is called a sample size. The majority of people do not even know about this site, nor do they post on blogs. A sample size of 11000 people is HUGE to a company with 4-6 million customers.

9 Jan 2011 09:32:37 PM: 9 Jan 2011 11:26:01 PM

There is a big difference between a person that is angry and a person that is rude. An angry person makes you want to help them because they are disappointed in whatever endeavour you are doing. A rude person only makes you realise they are not someone you have respect for.

Just a thought.

9 Jan 2011 09:35:12 PM: Depends on where the anger is directed

9 Jan 2011 09:36:16 PM: Also a majority of people on here complain 5 or so times

9 Jan 2011 09:37:09 PM: I'd much rather pay more for my mobile service that worked! Obviously my $80 per month on my crappy infinite plan is like throwing money down the drain anyway!

9 Jan 2011 09:38:02 PM:

9 Jan 2011 09:39:24 PM: How can a major telco not have 3G service in one of Australia's CBDs haha FAIL. Vodafone suck.

9 Jan 2011 09:39:46 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:36:16 PM, Sorry due to the unique number of IP's that have posted. I will have to disagree with that statement. Regards, Vodafail Moderation Team.

9 Jan 2011 09:40:43 PM: So if someone directs anger at you, do you help them? Ummm NO

9 Jan 2011 09:44:06 PM: Maybe Vodafone customers are angry because staff in the store tell you to ring customer service which has terrible wait times.... That is Vodafone's customer service...

9 Jan 2011 09:49:05 PM: @ 9 Jan 2011 11:40:43 PM
If a drukardn in a pub is angry with my for looking at them funny, do I want to help him? No.

If a customer with my company which I have spent years of my life working for is angry with us, bloody oath I want to help them.

9 Jan 2011 09:52:18 PM: Ah Vodafone staff, keep trying to defend a useless company that cares about wasting millions on a V8 supercar team and sponsoring the Ashes, rather then investing more infrastructure into their network when doing their capacity planning before rolling out unlimited infinite plans. = FAIL

9 Jan 2011 10:54:21 PM: Or it's just that they have lives and went to bed ...

9 Jan 2011 10:57:23 PM: Yeah they need an early night in prep for tomorrow, another day where the staff think.. FML all thanks to VODAFONE!

10 Jan 2011 01:44:04 AM: Hello Vodafone... can you spell I N T E G R I T Y...? Do you know what it means? It means DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO. That means... provide the service that you contracted to provide to the customer. Your lack of INTEGRITY is the sole reason for all of the flak you are getting on this and other forums.

10 Jan 2011 03:02:36 AM: Out of every hundred customers we sign up, maybe two or three have issues.

That's the bottom line.

10 Jan 2011 07:19:03 AM: Intimidating and abusing staff is really not OK. Not at all.
Anything else that will help you FORCE VODAFONE TO HONOR IT'S MOST BASIC COMMITMENTS is fair game.
Vodafone (the company) uses all sorts of strategies, tricks and straight out lies to abscond from their responsibility. Do not let anybody convince you that it is mean, cruel or immoral to respond in kind.
Although Australian telcos have a poor track record of recognizing that low staff moral (as a result of management failings) is a real problem, there is always a first time.

If you want to abuse somebody you don't know because you are angry - take a long hard look at yourself and chill out.
If you want to insist that Vodafone (the company) must meet it's most basic obligations and the only way to do that is by dealing with tired looking Vodafone staff who wish it would end - go right ahead.
If you work for Vodafone - good luck.

10 Jan 2011 11:49:35 AM: I agree with the original poster, they are people after all and their management is letting them down very badly. Good managers take the heat OFF their employees. Vodafone are not doing that clearly. As for the earlierr comment about only a small number having issues, thats bollocks because I hear more and more everyday. I work for a large organisation and they are coming out of the woodwork. I made this video earlier at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZKZPBr7lYo it demonstrates amongst other things that you can get you issue across without resorting to bad behaviour.

10 Jan 2011 01:03:03 PM: I agree with you 100% i work in retail aswell the staff at my local Voda store have been fantastic infact i have become friends with alot of them only because i am always in the store having to send off a hand set or pick it up to find its still faulty and as i said to the staff i know its not their fault. I personaly find it to be a shame the network is so bad at the moment and with the personal information leak at the moment i am seriously concerned.

10 Jan 2011 02:37:18 PM: Vodafone Management is a disaster! Go the class action law suit. 9000 people lined up so far! I emailed ACCC yesterday as well as Today Tonight and A Current Affair. Vodafone deserves everyting it gets for poor planning, non-disclosure and misrepresentation.

10 Jan 2011 02:44:24 PM: Yes, but the staff don't. That's the whole point of this argument. Good luck guys!

10 Jan 2011 04:10:29 PM: I work for VHA and have 2 phones with vodafone that I've never had any real problem with... why should I feel guilty for selling something that works for me?

10 Jan 2011 05:19:07 PM: Yet, you can see complaint after complaint after complaint here, let alone the people that are apparently going into your stores and abusing you or over the phone and you think the network works?

10 Jan 2011 07:10:58 PM: Today spent wasting my time with voidafone,I have been away for the past week, prior to that I lodged a complaint with the TIO, Voidafone left a message asking me to call them re my complaint or text them, unable to do so as I didnt have coverage however did sent a text from my sons phone telling them this. o today I called the 1555 and decided to be call back within 10-15 mins, this was after being told at least half a dozen times that there was a technical issue and to call back. 2 hours later no response so I called 1555 again this time held on as the wait was 7-12 mins, another 2 hours so called back again, over 35mins was the reported as the wait, this time I did get a customer service person whom noticed I had a complaint and dumped me through to this department, alas they were now closed, ring back tomorrow. All I wanted was my password reset as they claim I had put a wrong one in and had not answered my secret question correctly 3 times,funny thing was I didn't even get a chance to answer the question as coverage was slow. so I called once again spoke to a supervisor, sorry blah blah blah, still waiting for the reset, not going to give them any more payments as I wont pay for nothing

11 Jan 2011 07:19:16 AM: Hmm, this is the wrong post to leave such a reply. This is to do with retail staff dealing with abuse - not customer care waiting times.

11 Jan 2011 02:12:42 PM: Directed to the 2nd poster you sir are the idiot rather then the man telling you that he is just doing his job. If you were a police officer and people give you the crap your giving this retailer wouldnt you feel annoyed as you are only doing your job. Yes i agree that Vodafone is hopeless but the employee is quite obviously a trained proffesional and would rather not be harrased by people like you. No offence to the poster but i wouldnt mind getting my contract ripped up as the converage is horrible but there is seriously nothing you can do about that. Also this employee isnt on the phone when you call up customer support and as it seems i would honestly rather have them to talk to then the people we do recieve. TO ALL FUTURE HARRASERS dont shoot the messanger, as there doing there job, if you intend to hurt voda there is a law suit, just dont harras there workers.

13 Jan 2011 02:42:26 PM: OP, the only reason I would come round the counter is to give you a big hug. I have the utmost admiration for anyone who has to deal face-to-face with the idiotic general public, having spent three of the most hateful years of my life putting up with verbal abuse down the phone because morons don't read the terms and conditions, and refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. Anyone who comes into a store and makes threats and intimidates as the customer is alleged to have done should be reported to the police (who sadly will do nothing no doubt).

13 Jan 2011 10:19:22 PM: VHA its management and staff are working hard to fix the issues at hand and find resolutions for all customers facing issues. Please note that the majority of employees both retail and call centre are not here to make your life hard, we genuinely want to help you, we have friends and family facing the same issue and we do feel your pain. Please give us the chance to do so without being rude or aggressive, it's much easier to go above and beyond for someone who is understanding of where we are coming from than it is for someone who is yelling,screaming and name calling. This is the way bullies behave!
To the girl at the store I understand where you are coming from and you are doing an amazing job.
To the creator of this website, I understand your frustrations and I applaud you for taking action to rectify something that you believed to be wrong.
To all the rational people who have posted on this site, thank you for taking the time and effort to air your grievances.
We are aware that there are issues with the network, and I am not one to make excuses so I won't. We are working to Increase our capacity and the only thing I can say is I hope this is fixed soon.
I myself work for VHA and have done so for many years, our network has never been as good as Telstras- but bare in mind it was you the tax payers who paid for and set up their infrastructure when the network was owned by the government- be that as it may I choose to work for Vodafone for the culture that it encourages throughout the company it is an amazing company to work for.
I am saddened by the comments made about our customer service as this is an area that we are normally complemented on and this issue needs to be adressed along with the network. After all what's the use of having a fantastic network when you dont have fantastic staff to back it up- we are not Telstra after all.

14 Jan 2011 08:52:46 AM: I'd like to see how would you react if you were in our position... The employees made the company, if you think your company is not given the right service SUGGEST other options instead of looking at the customer as if we were rude idiots just for pleasure. YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS BAD now that everybody is telling it to you VODAFAIL do you think you could listen and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? sometimes I wonder how is this legal, ACCC where are you?

19 Jan 2011 02:56:20 PM: i have worked for vf and 3 for 5 years and man.... i'm looking to change my job . getting so much shit from ignorant customers has just taken its toll. it's not like we get paid more for getting shouted on. We really try to help you, but if people can't give us a break. idno.. i do understand from customers' POV, but it's just not fair to the workers. Stop "my friend told me..." rah rah rah. If they can do a better job, go to them. Why ask if you can't believe what we say?

20 Jan 2011 06:13:12 PM: There are multipule reasons for network problems. Just a couple are: the 2100mhz signal is banked up because of IPhones (3GS) and upgrades.
If you choose a phone that is 850mhz capable you will have a better experience. 850 is what telstra call the "next G" network, it is not as fast 2100 (but still broadband speed).If you are having trouble suggest to customer care or Vodafone consultants that you would like a I phone 4 or the new Black Berry bold or HTC desire HD. 850 has more then double the frequency range and penetrates buildings, mountains etc.

Telstra had the same "teething" problems 4 years ago.
I am proud that I look after all of my business clients and if our network is really not achieving drsirable results for their business then I go to great lengths to help them out of their commitments. In saying that it is quite rare that I have to go to those lengths.

I am sorry that the company I work for and love is frustrating so many people. But I know it will be fixed.
Customers you may want to leave now but down the track you will experience great coverage at the most competitive prices on the market.

I hope you can stick with Vodafone and support a business that is driving mobile phone prices significatly lower for the Australian Market.

Vodafone will fix their issues they are not new to this. As a brand they are the largest mobile provider in the world, (one in four mobiles are Vodafone mobile).

And I applaud the creator of this website and hope that more people will create wiki sites for companies to hear their complaints ( a insurance flood victim one possibly?)

cheers.

21 Jan 2011 09:03:04 AM: How fail are customers?????????

That just says it all!

It never ceases to amaze me how so called 'customer service' representatives fail to understand the fundamentals of... well, customer service! With 25 years experience dealing with the public, I understand completely the trials and tribulations that dealing with the public present. Indeed, 'Customer Service' jobs are possibly the toughest and most underpaid of jobs, made more difficult by the apparent severe lack of proper training most customer service reps display; either lack of training or simply an innate lack of ability to put training into practice.

I agree, a fair percentage of customers appear to be 'morons'. I agree, customers sometimes do and say things that make it difficult to 'service' them in an appropriate way. I agree, customers can be rude, aggressive, and damn right offensive at times... enough to make even the most proficient customer service rep want to pull out a 44 magnum and do some damage.

Excellent customer service is primarily about relationships. The top 3 'C's' of excellent relationships are; Communication, Communication, and... yep... COMMUNICATION!! Vodafone is a TeleCOMMUNICATIONs company that, from my perspective as a customer, seems to have a huge COMMUNICATION problem. Go figure!

Apart from the CEO apology, which I only found out about via following Vodafail, Vodafone has not once COMMUNICATED with me to acknowledge there are issues with it's network. Why is it left to vodafail to gather all the intelligence about network failure and customer issues? Why isn't Vodafone being more proactive in regard to placating it's customers and solving their issues? If Vodafone is being proactive, why, as a PAYING CUSTOMER, don't I know anything about it?

Poor COMMUNICATION: Strike 1!

To all the Vodafone staff on here venting about angry, moronic, and stupid customers: PAYING CUSTOMERS have the right to be angry, moronic and stupid. It's YOUR JOB to deal with them in a professional way regardless of your personal opinion. I'm sure I speak for almost everyone when I say, I make NO APOLOGY for the diversity of the human condition that makes every HUMAN different and approach situations in different ways; ALL of us PAYING CUSTOMERS have the RIGHT to NOT fit in the BOX that YOU call 'normal', or that YOU are happy to deal with! If you don't know how to deal with an angry customer, go back to skool and get some training! LEARN that angry customers are one of the BEST types of customer to have (Yes you read that right, BEST) and can ultimately be the most rewarding to deal with! Angry customers present you with huge OPPORTUNITIES; You turn an angry customer around and you have a customer that will sing your praises until the next millennium and leave a beaming, satisfied smile of your face for a job well done! It's a shame none of you seem to have a grasp on that! Learn EMPATHY, PATIENCE, LISTENING SKILLS, QUESTIONING SKILLS. Did I mention EMPATHY? If YOU can't be bothered to learn how to deal with all types of people, then get another job! Publically bitching and moaning about the very people who ultimately PAY YOUR WAGES, AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A JOB isn't a very smart move on so many levels, there isn't enough space to discuss them here!

Gross lack of service ability: Strike 2!

Also, angry customers help uncover holes in your product and/or service. It's up to Vodafone (read Vodafone staff) to effectively identify and resolve those holes. It shouldn't be left to fester this much so that Vodafail comes to life or PAYING customers have to invest valuable time and energy to make lots of noise and fuss to force those holes to be filled; It's NOT OUR JOB, but we, as PAYING customers, sure have the RIGHT to make lots of noise and fuss when YOU fail! Unfortunately, as the coal face of Vodafone, it's the role of the customer service rep to face the brunt of customer dissatisfaction in a professional way. If Vodafone management don't have the nous to provide the front line staff with effective mitigation facilities, that's NOT the PAYING CUSTOMERS problem... it's YOURS!

Apparent lack of ACTION: Strike 3!

Fundamentally, it is the PRIVILEGE OF ANY BUSINESS that a customer decides to had over hard earned money for products and services. That's a fact that seems to have been lost on not only Vodafone, but across the consumer sector. Companies like Vodafone that lock customers into contracts, lock phones to the network, etc, make it difficult for dissatisfied customers to switch suppliers. Unlike a high street retailer where, as a customer, I have the choice whether to go back or not at no cost to me, I can't just ditch Vodafone without having to buy a new phone or lose money on the phone I already have. That just adds to the misery and frustration of poor service, be it from Vodafone staff or the network. PAYING CUSTOMERS like me are kind of like caged angry lions. Vodafone has 3 choices. 1) Release the lions: unlock our phones and/or allow us to exit contracts at no cost. 2) Give the lions a better enclosure: FIX the damn network! 3) Make the lions more angry: Keep poking us with the sticks of bad service in exchange for good money and watch what happens... I can assure you, it's not gonna be good!

21 Jan 2011 05:50:40 PM: Some of you clowns should slow down a little on the individual that wrote the original post. Spitting your vitriol and hissing your anger only goes to prove that the point made about abuse from customers must be all too real for the sales people. For s start it's only a phone for heavens sake. From reading the emotion blurted around this web site one could be forgiven for thinking that you all have nowhere to live tonight. I sympathise with your phone issues (although only mildly) and appreciate that you are entitled to expect a certain standard of service. However, that doesn't give any of you the unfettered right to abuse people just because your having a 'tanty' over a phone. I would be horrified if my 8 year old carried on like some of the goons on this site. Far from being subject to a class action, the employees of Vodaphone should prosecute some of the mindless fools roaming (sorry couldn't help the phone pun) around this site. I would gladly represent the person who wrote the first part of this thread. As for the idiot that threw a phone at the dealer he should have been prosecuted for common assault. It's hard to believe that this is modern Australia when we have a few disaffected phone 'freaks' thinking that they have the right to assault and abuse their fellow Australians over such an inconsequential thing as a mobile phone. Grow up the lot of you!

21 Jan 2011 07:59:59 PM: I love the comments about the fact that vodafone use the same towers as optus/ telstra or whoever, it cracks me up. How can 3 people on 3 different networks in the same 10 metre radius as each other all have varying levels of coverage? Oh yes and all using the same model iphone. No shock to anyone to hear that me on vodafail had the worst coverage and the others had near perfect reception.... Go on, justify that someone

21 Jan 2011 08:05:58 PM: In addition to the above comment, it was not on one occasion, and in different spots around town... hmmmmmmmmm?????!!!

21 Jan 2011 10:05:50 PM: In reply to comment @ 9 Jan 2011 09:47:29 PM:
... Also with the whole Vodafone's security breach - funny how they forgot to mention telstra also use the exact same system as us...

If you choose a phone that is 850mhz capable you will have a better experience. 850 is what telstra call the "next G" network, it is not as fast 2100 (but still broadband speed).If you are having trouble suggest to customer care or Vodafone consultants that you would like a I phone 4 or the new Black Berry bold or HTC desire HD. 850 has more then double the frequency range and penetrates buildings, mountains etc.

Telstra had the same "teething" problems 4 years ago.
I am proud that I look after all of my business clients and if our network is really not achieving drsirable results for their business then I go to great lengths to help them out of their commitments. In saying that it is quite rare that I have to go to those lengths.

I am sorry that the company I work for and love is frustrating so many people. But I know it will be fixed.
Customers you may want to leave now but down the track you will experience great coverage at the most competitive prices on the market.

I hope you can stick with Vodafone and support a business that is driving mobile phone prices significatly lower for the Australian Market.

Vodafone will fix their issues they are not new to this. As a brand they are the largest mobile provider in the world, (one in four mobiles are Vodafone mobile).

And I applaud the creator of this website and hope that more people will create wiki sites for companies to hear their complaints ( a insurance flood victim one possibly?)

cheers.

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about and it is dangerous Vodafone representatives such as yourselves that is increasing the misconception of the Vodafone network: 2100 is not as fast as Telstras 850 not even close 2100 tops out at max 3.6 MBPS and Telstra's next G is now deploying 20 MBPS. At least educate yourself before you pass yourself off as a so called expert.

12 May 2011 11:25:56 AM: The reason you are abused on a daily basis is because customers have totally lost faith in this companies ability to solve any sort of problem. I work in retail and am immensely grateful that the company that I work for do not have policies that force me to argue and fight with customers. I absolutely hate that I can't go into a Vodafone retail store and get my problems solved. Retail staff need more powers and much more training so that they can deal with these issues instore, rather than telling people to call customer care over the smallest issues. Remember, the number one annoyance for customers are policies and procedures that ruin the customer experience, if you can change/remove these then you are one step closer to success.

Also, curious if there is a legitimate way for employees to pass feedback onto higher ups? Surely being at the frontline of these complaints means they might have some ideas on how to improve the situation?

21 Jun 2011 11:26:09 PM: No matter how infuriated you are with service from any company, that is no excuse to use violence or assault to threaten, intimidate or bully a response. There are channels in place for this sort of thing and as frustrating as it may be, any retail staff member who knows the law and or feels threatened enough can have you put up on assault charges for even 'saying' that you will hit them etc.

Granted, its frustrating, I left Vodafone about a year ago, apparently before all the trouble and went to telstra. Needless to say, I can apply many vodafail stories to my Telstra experience. So much so that I returned to vodafone, only to discover my calls drop out, and my internet is at times unusable. It is frustrating and annoys and irritates me to no end.

I do not however, and will not ever consider going into a retail store and attempting to threaten or intimidate staff in their workplace. I now work in law enforcement and have seen too many people go to jail because of this behaviour. Do not let a phone companies frustrations put you in prison for what could be up to 5 years, longer if second or third offence.

I have a tower across the road, Full bars most of the time, random hours with full reception, I can't call out, people can't call me, CONNECTION ERROR, BUT MIRACULOUSLY, I can call 1555 wait on hold for 2 hours and have some lady ask me how the weather is in Australia, then tell me there is no problem with the network it must be a problem with my phone and my other phone and my wifes phone and my sisters phone and my cousins phone and my mates phone, maybe we should all try turning our phones off and cleaning the sim card and turning the phones back on.

I redeemed my bonus bank credit and paid the $89 difference to get a prepaid samsung galaxy fit. They were out of stock and didnt bother letting me know.
When I contacted them they reversed the Bonus bank credit but not the $89 which i paid with credit card. When I asked... they said they want the receipt of payment... which I never received in the first place.

20 Dec 2011 07:13:25 PM: Finally got a reply from Vodafone. Apparently there is a tower out in the Mt Lawley area. Hmmmmm will see how quickly this is rectified! If Vodafone is monitoring this I expect a month free for both of my phones!

20 Dec 2011 11:02:34 PM: Currently i am in Mt Lawley and my wife is in Melbourne. Same phones, same networks, same problems! Exactly how many towers are out???

21 Dec 2011 06:44:14 PM: Now the 10 business days waiting game..........

It was the correct thing to do, let us know the outcome!

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

22 Dec 2011 12:40:03 PM: Just heard from Vodafone saying their resolution team will contact me in 5 to 19 days. i won't be paying bills until I am released.

22 Dec 2011 03:25:38 PM: 5-19 days?

I thought it was 10 business days? Perhaps I am wrong.........or perhaps the resolution team are busy in the lead up to Christmas? Who knows?

The bills are usually put into ''suspension'' whilst the matter is investigated.

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

22 Dec 2011 07:10:18 PM: Sorry. Typo. 5-10 days.

23 Dec 2011 09:49:18 AM: Another reply from VF stating problem in Mt Lawley has been fixed. WRONG!!!! Still the same problem and my wife having same problem in Melbourne abduction now in Sydney. I demanded my contracts be released immediately.

23 Dec 2011 09:51:00 AM: Abduction = and. Stupid corrective text. :)

23 Dec 2011 04:36:08 PM: Bit of a circular nightmare for you at the moment!

Was it the resolutions team that contacted you?

What was the response to your demand?

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

24 Dec 2011 09:17:03 AM: Not them. The Social Media consultant. But had no access for 15 hours since 4pm yesterday. Called VF and complained. Apparently another site nearby is having problems. Unbearable this is.

24 Dec 2011 12:51:56 PM: I emailed the consultant and demanded they release me and allow to have my numbers ported to another provider. Oh! By the way! It's still dropping out every few minutes. I am going online everywhere to complain. VF have no idea what I can do in this regard. The sooner they do the right thing the better it will be for them.

24 Dec 2011 02:35:18 PM: Good news! Vodafone are releasing me from boyhood contracts without penalty! This move has put them in the good books for a possible future service. :)

24 Dec 2011 02:36:38 PM: Lol. boyhood = both.

26 Dec 2011 09:13:24 AM: Result!!

Ensure that VF cancel your direct debit accounts and check your bank balance on the due date as they sometimes unexpectantly re-appear.......

21193 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is going to reap what they sowed at 24 Mar 2012 09:24:32 AM

I no longer have a problem with Vodafail.

I gave them the flick 3 days ago to go with another company after 17 YEARS!

17 years with mostly good reception & a reasonable deal. However from about a year ago nothing but aggravation.

Actually I tried to switch to Telstra at their ultra state of the art (?) new local store after being politely attended to by a nice attentive young lady on my initial visit. However on the follow up to sign up for the negotiated package deal, I was informed it was her day off & none of the disinterested bunch of retards could find my already negotiated deal & were not interested enough to give me any kind of help because they had more important things to do like squeezing their pimples & setting up the new 4G giant size plastic icon.

Gave the situation a little thought & went over to the Optus shop where I was treated as if I was a long lost member of the family. So based on nothing more than being treated like an actual person instead of a statistic I ended up with a far better deal on 2 phone deals & a broadband line account.

So far in 3 days I have had every inquiry & set up problem answered satisfactorily & (almost) immediately. I have read the online forums & there are pros & cons with all the telcos but as far as I'm concerned the most important thing is to be able to communicate with someone if there is a problem & I'm getting that now.

So bye bye LARA, bye bye totally no reception most of the day, bye bye hanging in a phone queue for 3 hours until Mumbai answers with total denial of anything I want to happen. Bye bye after 17 years of being a customer who always paid on time!

i work for vodafone and yes they are a terrible company with terrible service. go to telstra please...

21 Dec 2010 12:29:27 PM: Comedy gold.

22 Dec 2010 08:22:37 AM: Where is the "like" button for this comment?

22 Dec 2010 10:33:25 AM: Just click on how many stars you want to give it. Looks like it already has a lot of them.

27 Dec 2010 01:23:49 PM: Yeh sure you work for Vodafone. If it's that bad why don't you work for Telstra instead?

5 Jan 2011 07:11:42 PM: I think you are from the marketing team of Telstra.

9 Jan 2011 10:30:02 PM: Haha, and if this person is from Telstra, good on them! They know how to provide a network that WORKS. Vodafone... not so much.

21 Jan 2011 02:13:18 PM: Obviously a Telstra employee...

21 Jan 2011 06:54:36 PM: I feel the Vodafone employees pain - too many direct their problem as PERSONAL blame. we all have to calm down & allow the employees to pass the problem back up the chain so it can be dealt with. The person behind the counter might be the 'face' of the company but they are not the problem or the cause - they are the messenger. They are limited in their capabilities by what the employer allows/will listen to. I am a Vodafone customer since 1999 & will continue to be as long as the issues are addressed. I do not like being dictated to by Telstra or Optus so have continued my support in hope of improvement (many have come but I need to see Vodafone matching the others in coverage especially.

24 Jan 2011 01:09:45 PM: I am a vodafone employee and I agree!!!! All you rude violent aggressive racist people out there go to Telstra, I don't bloody care as long as I don't have to put up with your behavior some customers you are better off getting rid of they are just poison!

25 Jan 2011 10:18:50 PM: or are they just nice people pushed to their limits with your service or lack there of??

28 Jan 2011 11:41:27 AM: Telstra is not any better, unfortunately...
Why do we have such a poor service in the telco industry in this country?
All those Indians at the call centre would be laughing themselves with all the conundrums we are having in this country...

28 Jan 2011 12:05:23 PM: Telstra has the best 3G network in Aus. Sure their customer service sucks almost as badly as Vodafone's, but I am not paying for the customer service I am paying for the network, and the NextG network is rock solid.

I am a long time Vodafone staff member working on the front line in one of the busiest stores in Australia. I do my job very very well and any customer who is lucky enough to see me always has their problems resolved. However being such a busy store it usually takes 20 minutes to get to me and we always have massive lines. I found out yesterday that Vodafone has decided in all its wisdom to cut our labour budget from 4500 hours to 1800 hour per month meaning that we will be running on a skeleton staff and the majority of our casual employees will not have a job. They are doing this to cut costs and screw their customers, and it disgusts me more than anyone because it is a company I have defended vigorously in the past. This is the biggest of Vodafails, blatant stupidity!!!

21 Apr 2011 12:29:39 PM: I started work with Vodafone sometime ago and this month my work hours as a casual have been cut into less than half earning $250 a fortnight, this was without any information or heads up, when talked with Store incharge he responds I can't do anything as Vodafone has told us to reduce work hours. I feel I am better off with Centrelink (which I totally despise for making people bludgers). shift hours keep on changing week to week. When I went for interview we were told we shall be getting a minimum of 20hrs/week, once the shitstorm from the customers has calmed down the stormtroopers have been sent into oblivion. So its not just the customers, its screw anyone and everyone after we have made use of them, this amounts to Good Ol Capitalism which as we can see has brought upon us the doom of mankind. Centrelink here i come :(

No reception - on a good day 1 little bar. Dropped calls.
Delayed SMS Messages and worst of all Very poor customer service from people that don't even know that Canberra is the capital of Australia! I am leaving Voda-no-phone and going to another provider this weekend.

When I changed from 3 to Vodafone I change my plan as from 45AUD cap+International call to 20AUD sim card only+International call. When I received my first bill I was so surprised that they haven't put the International call pack into my account so I have to pay full amount for my international calls. Since I've done the contract on telephone, I just rang the customer line and they told me they could only refund 25% of the international call part. Unless I can find a hard copy of my contract, I won't be able to get a full amount refund. So I went to Vodafone store and requested for a hardcopy. But there is nothing about International call pack mentioned on it.
Then I asked if I could request for the audio record of my contract. They simply refused it. Luckily one Vodafone staff helped me to call the service line. At first they said only 30% of my international call fee can be cancelled. I refused it directly. After a few seconds they asked if I accept 50% refund. Then I was totally upset and insisted to get a full amount refund. After 10 more minutes the staff lady told me that "they" agreed to refund me in full price but I have to wait untill next month when the new bill comes.

Sunday 24th april 2011, in melbourne, i among other vodafone users i have called have not ebeen able to send or receive texts for at least the last hours, their website is calling it an 'unplanned service interruption', they should just call it 'our network'.
Have been experienceing problems with vodafail for almost the last 12 months, went thru hours of the rigmarole with clueless customer service, eventually lost it and told the guy to stop talking s**t and just recognise that i, like 15000 other people were effected by this rubbish network. after a slight pause he amazingly said, 'yes, thats the problem, would you like to cancel your contract?'. He organised for contract cancellation people to call me the following week, after 6 weeks i received no calls, called back only to be informed that they wouldn't cancel my contract, despite me being able to provide the name and reference number of the previous customer service worker. beyond angry now i argued for the best part of half an hour, the final resolution being stupider than anything vodafone had come up with so far - they would not cancel my contract, but rather would credit me the remaining 8 months of the contract at $115 a month. So despite the fact that i would no only cost them money, they still wouldnt cancel the contract, amazing.

while i'm ranting a quick note, on a week in tasmania recently, i had service for 1 day out of the 7 i was there, sure i can understand them not having complete coverage, thats fine, but was astounded as i walked through launceston, with no service, and saw a vodafone shop. I went in and asked the guy what are you doing here selling phones when you have no service, his reply was brutally honest: 'you tell me'. he said it was an absolute joke that they even had a store, and that all he and the other staff did was to advise people like me on holiday that there was no service.

'you asked, we ignored you'

25 Apr 2011 12:00:47 AM: Had exactly the same experience in Tasmania. Broke my arm in a remote location and my phone was 100% useless! No reception until I got to Hobart. I saw that same shop in Launceston and had a laugh.

Is anyone else having issues with either not recieving sms until hrs after they have been sent to you, your sms's either sending multiple times or not at all, or you not getting sms's at all??? I'm in NSW, Richmond area.

8 Jan 2012 06:58:13 PM: Its a common problem mate (almost Australia wide from what i read here), it took 40mins to send a sms 3 houses away from mine (between two vodafone services) literally 100m away, it took 40mins to send!

15 Jan 2012 09:30:45 PM: My friend on the NSW Central Coast sends texts and sometimes they come through 7 times for example, and sometimes he receives my texts many times...

I live in Marsfield, work in Roseville. Both places give me terrible reception. Moving the phone LITERALLY inches will cause the receiption bars to go from 3 out of 5 to 0 (SOS only). It is totally unworkable. I use an iPhone 4.

Took the speed issues to the TIO, Vodafail didn't get in contact until the last day (10th working day), was told nothing that they could do until 850 MHz is installed in my area however Vodafail has no plans to install it. I agreed that they give me some data as compensation however Vodafail failed to add it to my account.

Vodafail, you just lost another customer and will unlikely gain any more since I'll be telling those who are thinking to switch not to pick Vodafail.

I only migrated to Vodafone 10 data ago. From the second I ordered my phone I had problems. The stupid bitch upgrading me to the iPhone 4s didn't ask for my bank details and then had to call after two days to get them so my phone still didn't get sent out. Then she put my work address down wrong. She didn't put down a shop name or number, idiot. I had to pick up the phone myself! My pocket wifi never arrived. Then I get a bill last week. For a different number under my name!! The shifty cunts in Vodafone opened up another account without any identification or visual contact of me! And all they could offer was $20 off the bill. As if you'd expect me to pay for an account I never opened. Then I was stuck on the phone to the Indian bitch for an hour because I couldn't understand her and she was talking too fast anddd she wouldn't even tell me who in the staff authorized the account to be opened. Seriously who is stupid enough to open two UNLIMITED plans in one persons name. Fuckwits! Can't wait to fuck them over for fraud

14 Jan 2012 04:55:11 PM: hey, isnt this site meant to be moderated?
"stupid Bitch", "shifty cunts", "indian bitch", "fuckwits", to me appears to be overly agressive and includes profanity. I also personally find the term "indian bitch" to be offensive and racist. it seems to me that the moderators on this site do little more than encourage peoples anger.

19 Jan 2012 07:03:35 PM: I personally feel that every one of those words describe vodafone perfectly:)
I have ONLY EVER experienced Stupid Bitches, Shifty Cunts, Indian Bitches(who cant even speak the English language) and MASSIVE fuckwits from the day I joined till the day I left!!!!! as far as encouragement for anger,........Vodafone is the ONLY one encouraging peoples anger!!!

19 Jan 2012 09:34:19 PM: I agree with 14 Jan 2012 04:55:11 PM, I am a vodafone staff member, of indian descent.
none of those phrases describe me. I just work there, its a job. it doesnt make me any less of a person. but you seem to think it does.
do you really think that this is a reasonable response?
its nothing but offensive and racist!

22 Dec 2010 09:14:04 PM: If you would like service from an Australian vodafone has great staff in the store whom u can ask to call customer care on your behalf. You can explain the issues you are having with the phone and the service. Troubleshooting will be done, credit will be placed on your account, and if teh issue cannot be resolved you can be released from your contract.

23 Dec 2010 10:15:23 PM: You can only be released out of your account after tens of hours on hold, numerous complaints and then complaining to the TIO. Vodafone doesn't let you leave that easily, it takes a lot of time and effort.

23 Dec 2010 11:54:41 PM: Sweetheart you must be really missing somthing in your life grow up its a phone service

24 Dec 2010 07:56:03 PM: hahha..Emma, pure brilliance! Best.Comment.Here. And to the last post - yes it is *only* a phone service that isn't working properly for a lot of people, so they come to this site, *only* for sharing the difficulties people have been having with said service. You must be missing something in your life also - empathy and a sense of humour.

27 Dec 2010 07:35:19 AM: Totally agree with the comment above. All the Vodafone employees who are commenting on here are totally devoid of any empathy or sense of humour. It's a huge part of their problem. The CEO apologies and they still try to blame every problem on the customer.

27 Dec 2010 11:36:48 AM: That's great Emma. And yes! That effing Lara! That is what made the phone calls so painful. She's deaf and patronising!

5 Jan 2011 11:33:45 PM: To the two VF customers below

@22 Dec 2010 11:14:04 PM: BULL!!!!!! I've been going around in circules with VF for bloody ages and now its with the TIO with no resolution so far. release me from a contract, I think I'll see birds fly upside down first!.

@24 Dec 2010 01:54:41 AM: Actually mate my phone is a connection to my cutomers, as a small business owner my phone and data services are FUNDAMENTAL without which I lose money. Hence why my phone is now thousand little pieces and I have another contract with Telstra who are providing a better saervice and customer support.

THANKS A LOT VODAFAIL BECAUSE YOUR SH*T NETWORK CANT COPE WITH EASTER WITH OUT FAILING. I MISSED OUT ON SPENDING THE DAY WITH THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS BECAUSE I COULDNT CONTACT HER AND SHE COULDNT CONTACT ME.

I own an iPhone 4, and only about 50% of my calls actually connect, the other 50% are either sent to my voicemail if they are incoming calls, or I have to redial twice, sometimes three times before my call will go through. I have four bars of signal continuously throughout my house and I also have employed the use of the iPhone bumper. I don't understand how a network like this can fail so much in a technological world such as ours.
Additionally, I rang vodafone about this problem about 3 months ago, and they said that no fix would be available in the foreseeable future, but gave me 50% off of my phone bill (ironically).
Since then, the network status page has been updated to include my area in the list of "towers to be built in 2011".
However, no matter how good the reception is after they build the tower, I'll be leaving vodafone at the end of my contract, never to return again.

30 Apr 2011 09:26:11 PM: The fault you're experiencing is with the handset itself. The iPhone 4 has an operating system that can sometimes have trouble connecting to the network, though it can be dependent on the handset itself. It has something to do with the fact that the iPhone attempts to draw a great deal of bandwidth from your nearest towers, and when there isn't a great deal available it continues to try to its own demise. This can be proved by turning off 3G and cellular data in your network settings. You will find your reception will visibly improve. If you are willing, head into a store and have them send it away for repair on the basis of reception and network faults. The handset will more than likely be replaced, which will hopefully fix the problem. Unfortunately until the network is updated to cope with the fault it cannot be fixed.

17 Aug 2011 01:02:01 PM: REPLY FROM VODAFONE...
/////
It's never nice to receive a bill higher than you expect, I'm sure I can help solve what is causing it with you. Sounds like you're educated and aware of the billing corrections recently made and the effect they've had on previously unbilled data services and I appreciate you posting what has happened to date.

We'll be able to look into what may be causing the data use and ensure it's avoided in the future. You mentioned that you don't use any services that are related to the billing corrections made (Peer to Peer, VoIP and Secure HTTP), however some applications and sites may communicate via secure HTTP as part of normal operation and previously you wouldn't have been billed for the data used. This can increase the amount of data you're billed for, even though you haven't changed your usage style/habits. You also mentioned you're in an area of reduced 3G coverage; the coverage checker gives an indication of expected network performance, but you certainly may be able to retrieve data at that location.

You mentioned that data sessions were listed during times that you were either at work or asleep; whilst this may seem like an error, there is a high possibility that if your handset is switched on, it can be retrieving data in the background. This could be an application checking for updates, or simply checking in and letting the application server know you're still around. These small increments of data use will extend a session time over a long period.

If you can let me know what model of handset you're using I can give you information on how to stop background tasks and help eliminate extra data usage. Do you know how much extra data you used overall? We've got a range of mobile internet packs to add to your data quota if you think you'll be using all your allocation next month, you can see these packs on our website here.

I'm sure we'll be able to solve this for you and help ensure you don't receive an unexpectedly high bill again.

Vodafone,
Your network is in serious need of an overhaul, your customer service is abysmally disgusting and your excuses and apologies are offensive. This should have been fixed months ago.

You need to get off your metaphorical backsides and do all you can to fix it. You need to come clean with exactly what is wrong with your network, how you intend to fix it and how long it will actually take to fix it (none of this 'we think it will take...' banter, we've already had enough of that).

It's clear that the problems you are having with your network are not software problems. Before anything is rolled out to a production system, it should be tested and tested and tested, then tested again for good measure. I find it hilarious, but at the same time frighteningly disturbing that a 'software fault' was able to cause these problems. I find it disturbing that it has taken so long for it to be fixed, and even when you claim the problem has been fixed, a large number of your customers still say it has not been fixed.

You need to dump any off-shore customer call centres you have and start employing Australian people in Australian based call centres. The customer service you are currently providing (or lack there of) is pitiful. You knew that there was a problem, yet the customer service 'representatives' that you employ off-shore still read from the script they have been provided and really didn't give a rodent's backside whether the issue was known or not. "Yes, I have turned my phone on and off. Yes, I have reset my phone. Yes, I have tried another SIM card. Yes, I have tried another phone." Sound familiar? They were retroactive and not proactive, which has destroyed your image. Customer Service is everything. I don't own a business and yet I know this basic principle, something which you need to be educated on. There is no point in selling a product if you can't even back it up.

You need to stop making excuses and claims that you're "working on it". We are sick and tired of it. These excuses and lies are inflicting untold and widespread damage to your brand, image and reputation: all of the media coverage, social networking coverage and this website on this issue are undeniable examples of this fact.

I was once in high regard of Vodafone but after witnessing and being subject to your disregard with your customers and service, you are not even an after-thought, I actively discourage anyone from signing with you because of these problems, even on a pre-paid based service, you're just not worth it. Customers will pay more for a service that works! I can tell you now, your current behaviour and attitude will not fix things, you will only exacerbate the vast damage that is being inflicted to your image (and later on down the track, profits, as that all that seems to matter to Vodafone).

Case-in-point, despite all of the customer complaints of poor service and poor customer service (because of capacity issues, one would assume considering the problems described by others are further reaching than a 'software fault'), you still decided to go ahead and aggressively market your 'Infinite cap' plans. Now, if you're suffering from capacity issues (that is not enough hose for the water you're trying to deliver, so to speak, since it seems you need to be educated on this), won't the rolling out of these plans make the problem worse?

Use logic, Vodafone, seriously! Fix your network first! Like I said, there is no point in selling a product if you can't support it. In fact, it's driving your customers away, and placing you in bad stead with the ACCC, the TIO and future customers because they're seeing all of this negative publicity.

I've had enough. I'm off to Telstra. Paying more for a service that works is a bloody sight better than what a joke of a service you are offering. I gather many feel the same.

And that is putting it nicely.

30 Dec 2010 07:42:39 PM: Well said and i echo you thoughts too, as do many of us up here in the Hunter Valley in NSW, the service is just SHIT, no other word for it... And like you i will be changing to Telstra in the new year... Good on you Vodafone, telsta love you, all the way to the bank....

2 Jan 2011 06:22:55 AM: Well said.If my small business were to get paid for not providing services while agressively seeking more customers to not provide them with services and charge them, I wouldbe prosecuted.

5 Jan 2011 09:30:03 PM: Thats a bit harsh, they have acknowledged there are problems and as a result are busy recruiting thousands of people to do an audit of the systems failures.Any idea what such an audit would cost them?

7 Jan 2011 02:39:05 PM: My bestie worked for VP in their tech department - building/fixing networks etc.... has done for 14yrs. He has always supported VP... UNTIL NOW! or until mid last year. He thinks they are a joke. He says they don't listen to what the IT techs say is needed. They refuse to admit they have no idea re the problems. He says resetting, new Sims etc are a joke and they do it so it appears they are "doing something" He now uses Telstra. And he has left VP.
I changed from "3" to VP because "3" had coverage and customer service issues only to discover VP has bought "3" and they too have coverage and customer service issues. They wont let me out of my contract and I am forced to suffer at the hands of their incapabilities. I have 12 months left on my contract and it cant come soon enough! What a waste of money, time and effort!

10 Jan 2011 09:53:07 AM: To play Devil's Advocate for a moment - if the call centres were to be moved back onshore, running costs for the customer service staff would triple. That's around 2000-3000 staff per week to multiply it by (just added that in for scope). This affects prices of plans, ability to expand/maintain networks, and overall revenue to invest money back into the company.

As you can guess, I used to work for VF. The culture there was always amazing, more pre-merger. Nigel Dews, CEO, always pushed employees to do the right thing, for customer experience. It just so happens that they're not very good at it. It seems that once a Telco hits X number of customers, it becomes unmanagable. The shame of it is that none of the Telcos are good on a mass scale. Telstra has great coverage, but it's expensive and provides poor customer service (even from an industry level). Optus is mid-range, fairly much across the board. VF is the most competitive price-wise, which has overloaded their network with people wanting a good deal, and it's why you spend X hours getting your issues resolved.

I left VF because I couldn't deliver promises to customers any more. I couldn't sell products and keep my integrity. You're never going to please everyone, but there should be balance.

In a nutshell, if you don't like the service you're getting, use your consumer sovereignty and don't re-sign with them.

23 Jan 2011 08:27:18 PM: Forget theNUTSHELL and the not resigning crap, go to tio, get out of your contract and move on to bigger and better things now. I did, piece of cake, I am pleased

6809 Someone from TAS thinks vodafone is Life and death fail. at 28 Dec 2010 04:51:26 PM

I moved back to Tassie to work in a hospital - I was berated when I didn't answer my phone for a call in to an emergency. Funnily enough, the phone never rang - and the voicemail arrived over a week later. I moved to Telstra so that I could actually USE my phone - and Vodafone still hit me with a $600 exit fee, despite their admission that their coverage was "poor" in my area.

30 Dec 2010 03:34:59 PM: OPTUS Hobart coverage is not much better. I broke a virgin contract when moving adress, was lucky to get one bar, when on Vodafone full coverage at home.

14614 Someone from WA thinks vodafone is I can't write it without profanity at 25 Jan 2011 02:26:14 PM

I was one of the first people to port my mobile number across to Vodafone many many years ago and have remained a loyal customer through numerous contracts for both personal and business use. I have just entered into an agreement for a Samsung Galaxy Tab to pick up my email on the go like everyone else.So far I have missed meetings,not returned calls to clients in a timely fashion because I didn't get their voicemails or follow up emails or text messages.My credibility has gone out the window.I can't be a successful person let alone a easily contactable parent or spouse or family member or friend or boss. Call 1555 Customer Service for a resolution if you have a spare half hour or so to go round in circles with the Lara IVR. BTW ,I have never ever posted a comment on any forum since the commercialisation of the internet, never been in a chat room or subscribed to any social networking site because I didn't believe it would do any good to have a whinge. All that is out the window now , please take this post and if it helps make this Company accountable for their performance to the people of Australia I will have done some good for today.

11 Jan 2012 11:00:28 PM: I now have ported across to Telstra and have not had one call dropout in 2 months and the data speeds is on average 4 times as fast. I feel a great sense of relief that these losers are not f***ing with my life any more !!

The Tower at Dudley NSW 2290 is Dead. Took me 60 minutes to load this page in order to comment using Vodafails Edge System.
What going on Vodafone?
Reading the recent posts it seems that Vodafone has been worse than ever since early Friday Morning.
WHY isn't there something up on Vodafones website to explain what there up to. "System update?" We should all be so lucky!

29 Jan 2011 12:11:30 PM: Seems like the tower at Dudley serving areas surrounding (Redhead, Gateshead,Bennents Green, White Bridge Etc) is next to "Kaput"
Look at The Local profile 2290, "Vodafail Local" on this website.
Also in The Report Downloadable on this Website, "Vodafones Situation Yesterday Today and Tomorrow-Final" Search report for 2290 and look at results, they are the worst.
It's not on Vodafones list of places to upgrade though!

29 Jan 2011 01:51:59 PM: If you have tried to contact Customer Care without success or not to your satisfaction the next step is to contact the TIO.

The details may be found on the tab How To Complain located at the top of the page.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!!!

Thanks

Vodafail.com Moderation Team

29 Jan 2011 02:31:51 PM: Yep, I have contacted them both.
Vodafone keep bribing me, giving me extra data and time to use it.
Im reluctant to give them the "finger" and ask for a refund as I am hopeful that they will get their "act together" eventualllllly.
I dont believe in miracles,
BUT
Maybe I should start going to church and pray for them to get it right?
Thats it! Everyone should got to church next Sunday. We could all pray for Vodafone to be forgiven AND for Heavenly Intervention (for Vodafone, so they can get it right).
What a great idea, people.
Think it will work?

4 Feb 2011 04:46:40 PM: Got a Call from Vodafone offering to refund the unused portion of my data allowance and price of Modem.
But you wouldnt want to know it but my internet connection had came good the very same morning of the call, it had been bad (Edge Network) for 5 days.
Apparently the area Im in at Redhead (Elsdon Street Kalaroo Rd - signal from Dudley Tower) is a known blackspot.
Dont know what they did but Im happy at the moment.
I was also told that Vodafone has my area on a list of places to "improve", could be a while though.
So Im Sticking with them atleast until I use my data, good for 12 months.
PS - I hadnt got around to going to church, but I had faith / sort a.

No Network reception. Downloads and web page loading is extremely slow. i may as well go back to 56k internet connection it would still be quicker - and imean it. I tried calling the customer service. no one answers they just hang up on me. I am leaving vodafone tomorrow.

Please stop this. You have no idea how stressful this is for Vodafone employees.
The media company that owns smh clearly has a problem with VHA and the bias reporting is nothing short of unethical and disgusting.

If you think for one second that Vodafone do not care, you are wrong. Of course they do and of course they want to get things right. Their execs are working around the clock to try and serve you better.I am the partner of one of the managers and I see it first hand.

Please be patient, please try and be more gentle.
They hear you and share your pain every day and want to get it right.
Have a good weekend.

21 Jan 2011 08:11:00 PM: Whilst I can only imagine what the Vodafone front line staff (both in store and on the phones) are going through the only people to blame for this is the heads of the network.

So when you say 'please stop doing this', we as customers say 'please stop screwing us over'. That is not an attack at you, but at the network itself. Vodafone (and the execs of vodafone) should never have let the network degrade to this capacity. They still continue to charge customers a monthly amount, yet they are not providing the service that we are paying for. Additionally they continue to sign more customers up to a network that just doesn't work for so many people.

Again, I do feel sorry for the situation this has probably left you and the other front line staff in, But you need to direct that back at the management team.

21 Jan 2011 08:26:40 PM: Someone from NSW are you kidding me?. "The media company that owns smh clearly has a problem with VHA and the bias reporting is nothing short of unethical and disgusting". What is unethical and disgusting is selling me unlimited internet that DOESN'T work and phone calls that are either garbelled or drop out and I'm in Sydney CBD, 12000 in a class action isnt biased in my eyes. "Their execs are working around the clock" - they obviously are terrible at their job as it is not getting fixed - yet I still have to pay. Tell them all to quit - better still give them a Vodafone contract!!!!. Be patient??? how bout you give me $60 per month for nothing for 2 years and I'll tell you to be patient....

21 Jan 2011 10:37:00 PM: Their execs are working around the clock to try and serve you better??????????

Friend, this has been going on for months and months.............zip, zilch, nada has improved, suggest the execs are not working around the clock..........better still why don't they man some customer care reception phones?????

28 Jan 2011 05:52:29 PM: Turn it up, what about people hurt by your (vodafails) greed and mismanagement, there is a post below from someone who has been severely impacted and had something like $20 credited to his their account, after loosing tens of thousands. You guys are weak as piss. Eight weeks and you guys couldnt get a fone number to work.
TRY HARDER

1 to 3 drop outs on every single call! (pre-paid) Sometimes i cant even call back for minutes. Delayed SMSs (some received up to 3hrs later). Im not exaggerating this at all. As soon as the new iPhone4S hits very soon im going. Absolutely had enough.

For the past 5-6 weeks my service has been SHOCKING, I'm up now (12.39 in the morning) because I can't use the net during the day it just keeps being incredibly slow or non existant and I've taken to walking up the street to use a neighbours phone or get a reasonable (though not without occassional disconnets) on my mobile.

I phoned customer service about 3 weeks ago and they said I could either terminate my contract and return my phone or I could have 3 months free. Having been with vodafone for 2.75 years and knowing that most other telcos wifi in this region is pretty bad or non existant I took the 3 months because they said the problem was because they were upgrading and that must be what was causing the issues, so once the upgrades are finished my service should be better, though I'd just be happy if it was back to the service I had prior to the current problems.
Today I checked my bill to see if they had kept their word, and guess what, they've billed me! Insult to injury, I'm up until 3am some days trying to get stuff done on the net, because of your lousy upgrade issues and you don't keep your promises that were made to keep a customer, well done vodafone.

I purchased a "premium " number from voidafone, signed a contract only to find my "premium" number did not work. It took eight weeks for voidafone to "fix" the problem.During those eight weeks I spent many valuable hours on hold,and on most days I was assured the problem would fixed the next day.
Eventually I ended up dealing with voidafones national manager for portability. She did get the number up and running eventually. For most of those eight weeks I never received any calls or sms messages. Voidafone was unable to retrieve any of those sms messages or tell me who had tried to call.
The most damage was done when clients rang and could not be diverted to voicemail, instead they got a voidafone message giving many of them the impression my fone was disconnected, which then led them to assume it was for non payment.
I have had ongoing problems, but not as severe.Voidafones manager for portability refused my request to release me from my contract.
My business lost about $50000 last year.
As a hard working battler who pays his rent on time every week, as well as all our other bills,I feel voidafone needs to be taken to task,especially since they denied alot of these problems which are out in the open now

28 Dec 2010 06:06:41 AM: incomepance with a capital I

28 Dec 2010 06:12:37 AM: incompetance?

30 Dec 2010 04:15:44 PM: That how we spell, keep up the good work.

30 Dec 2010 10:42:21 PM: voidafone? first if your going to have a whinge about a company you have to atleast spell it right

31 Dec 2010 07:28:37 AM: If you are that slow you cannot see the pun he makes with the "Voidafone" you shouldnt be using a computer.

31 Dec 2010 01:46:24 PM: Hahaha, the person that posted at 12:42:21pm is an idiot haha. FAIL to him.

1 Jan 2011 07:09:38 AM: Can't spell? I think I can.Are you from a non english speaking background and employed by Voidafone?With my limited year 10 school education (Ballina High), and not looking at a dictionary, my understanding is that void can mean to negate or cancel, or it could also mean a gap or a hole.
As for your spelling, your means belonging to you, did you perhaps mean to type ..."if you are", or did you mean to type ..."if you're"??
I feel my complaint is justified and not a whinge. Eight weeks to fix the problem, not good enough, and it was only after Voidafone's
engineers couldn't fix the problem, and the manager for portability tried to offer me other numbers, and I lost it with her , and demanded she look into the history of the number, which she did,I then asked if the number had ever worked, then she realised that the number was previously owned by a big company and not set up to receive calls. I assume possibly a tv channel for competitions (eg if you know the answer text 'yes"to 0404......."
It only took aprox 2 more weeks to fix the problem.

1 Jan 2011 11:38:06 AM: For anyone interested in the real issues at stake, I went on Vodafones site, read what Cormack Hodginson (director of customer service and experience) had to say, and posted a reply requesting he check out this site with this ref (5338). I also requested he liase with vhf manager for portability. She knows my story too well. I have emailed her re requesting release from 2 contracts. I got an out of office reply from her, stating she will be back jan4. No reply from Cormack as yet.
I am curious as to what sort of replies I may or may not receive.

1 Jan 2011 01:51:55 PM: we are really glad to know about the school u studied at and about ur Thorough english knowledge :P..whats left now is that u can get a masters degree in english from a good university :P :D

1 Jan 2011 04:03:56 PM: Perhaps you guys at vodafail should be doing the studying; six weeks and the vodafail engineers couldnt work out that my number wasn't set up to receive calls!!! It took me and my year ten education to ask about the history of the number before you guys actually did anything constructive. happy with my level of education, dont need phd, besides, too busy running a business that reliabley provides the services that we contract to do.If we were to fail to deliver we would'nt be in business and we certainly wouldnt be charging our clients for our failures.

1 Jan 2011 05:14:43 PM: in that case welcome to vodafail...its indeed astonishing that u after ur ten years of education expected otherwise from vodafail...i wonder what u reckon from the name VODAFAIL in the first place :P

1 Jan 2011 06:53:08 PM: Opinions are like arseholes, everyones got one,seems u choose(or get paid$6/day) to peddle someone elses.Good job mate.
Issues are pretty staight forward, Vodafone has failed to provide services for which they have been paid to provide, a lot of people have been severely inconvenienced,some outright ripped off, and others like myself have been severely inconvenienced and have had our livelihoods impacted upon due to a variety of failures and blunders.

2 Jan 2011 02:07:41 AM: lol for the person who is complaining about the "voidafone"
umm its void a fone *cough* get it??? VOID A FONE
VODAPHONE = VOIDAFONE
do you see why he has said that.... your as idiotic as voidafone

2 Jan 2011 07:23:12 AM: gee feel for you. as a non business user, i can bear the pain.......and trust me I have. But as a business, vodafone should be made responsible for your losses somehow! a contract is between 2 parties, the payer and the party delivering. If only one party is satisfying their half of the deal and the other party is neglecting their part, they should be made acountable for your losses. I wonder what would happen if you took them to court over lost earnings and won the case? Do you think they would get their 'a' into 'g' and do something about it? for years their have been alot of services neglecting their part of contracts and we the stupid public have just put up with it. this site should put up a class action for people in your shoes to take these monkeys to court. I would participate in payments as I believe its all about the principle of the matter. keep battling and keep us posted!

2 Jan 2011 07:57:31 AM: Thanx for the support, but not so much about public being stupid, but rather the big companies wearing the consumer down and counting on us not being able to sustain protracted disputes.

2 Jan 2011 01:59:15 PM: I want to start a website where we can complain about the incorrect use of "your". CONTRACTIONS and how to use them. yourfail.
Lesson 1: YOUR = possessive YOU OWN IT, not short for you are, eg. your car, your hair, your education, your ignorance......
Lesson 2: YOU'RE IS SHORT FOR..wait for it "YOU ARE", eg. you're retarded, you're a dickhead, you're the one complaining, you're lame, you're as idiotic as voidafone, you're having a whinge, get it! like "you are" having a whinge. So it's (it is) you're (you are) having a whinge.
Amazing isn't it?
Here endeth the lesson.

2 Jan 2011 02:11:18 PM: you must be a women

2 Jan 2011 04:04:54 PM: what about a lesson running network ?

2 Jan 2011 07:34:29 PM: Seems someone is making a concerted effort to take the attention away from the issues at stake:
*Vodafone sold a number that didnt work
*Vodafone either fumbled around or did nothing for 6 weeks while someones business deteriorated
*It took someone without any telecomunications experience to actually think that perhaps someone should look at the history of that number, i.e. has it ever worked?
*then, and only then did vodafone begin doing the repairs,which still took another 2 weeks.
*How is it possible vodafone couldnt even set up a temporary diversion so at least clients would get some sort of voicemail message?
*Why would you just let someones clients get a message giving the impression the fone is disconnected?
*Wouldnt it have been appropriate to waive the contract?

4 Jan 2011 10:00:54 AM: The woman at 3:59pm is either a old english teacher or a pot head for being able to correct grammer and take it so passionality

4 Jan 2011 03:55:20 PM: Vodafone are taking this very seriously,got an email from one of the managers, they have given me a credit for $24.20c!

4 Jan 2011 04:10:41 PM: Wow! O.o
Don't spend it all at once!! I'm sure that hurt them too, what with the thousands of dollars a day they make...

4 Jan 2011 06:54:48 PM: Oh and they want me to keep a log of times,dates,locations etc etc.
I dont have the time for that, shouldnt they be paying people to do an audit of their failing system?
I have enough of my own work to do, I dont particularly want to be doing theirs as well.

4 Jan 2011 07:04:56 PM: SUCCESS AT LAST FOR VODAFONE
This is no longer at the top of the page

4 Jan 2011 07:30:53 PM: MIGHT IS RIGHT!!!

4 Jan 2011 09:24:01 PM: i just watched buried and i thought about something.... if ryan renyolds was with voda in that movie... he wouldve been so terribly screwed.

4 Jan 2011 09:30:18 PM: Thanx for that, BILL COLLINS

5 Jan 2011 06:35:13 PM: stab stab stab, I spit on vodafone.

6 Jan 2011 07:25:56 PM: Waited on hold for a total of 4 hours and 52 minutes today and still didn't even get to speak to an operator. First call was 2 hours and second was 2 hours and 52 minutes. Vodafone pay me compensation payments because their calls keep dropping out with full service in my area and they wont fix the tower. I have a hundred other stories like this and they all end badly. Shame on you Vodafone!!!!!!!!

6 Jan 2011 08:09:42 PM: 09:25:26 Does not pertain to above post

7 Jan 2011 08:58:08 AM: lol :D :P

7 Jan 2011 02:23:55 PM: I seriously think Vodafone should compensate you for business lost, its hard out there with the GFC and then you have a large multinational corporation making life miserable and harder for simple hardworking Australians.

7 Jan 2011 05:20:15 PM: I have had email correspondence with Vodaphone and as much as I, like everyone else, would like some resolution, I cant assume that will happen soon. I may be proved wrong.At the moment I am being told everything is fixed and to report any issues so they can get their tecs to look at it.
If I port my numbers without permission I am in breach of the (worthless) contract. (wouldnt you think a contract would protect both parties?)
At this point I think the safest thing to do is get a Telstra pre paid and have my calls diverted untill this is resolved or contracts expire (whichever comes first).
Despite their ascertion that the network is fine now, I still have droputs and innability to dial out at times. They still want me to keep logs of all my calls . I guess I need to make the time to lodge a complaint with theTIO

7 Jan 2011 08:12:12 PM: Just lodged complaint with TIO. It was so bloody easy, just clicked on the link to TIO website, filled it out in 5 mins

8 Jan 2011 03:30:32 PM: i think people here are coming on replying to this that actually work for vodafone! of coarse some people are happy with the service and have not had a problem but i have had plenty from wrong charges (for an iphone when my phone is free charge not $18 per month)to arrogant and stupid call centre opperators. the coverage is crap which i can handle because of infinite plan but will never sign up to vodafone again. from one of their own sales reps that my son sold a car to "vodafone are crap and thats why I have two phones one for work from voda which is free and another from telstra for when I want good service and reception!" straight from the horses mouth so to speak. one thing people haven't mentioned is why they keep playing tennis and switching you from section to section to solve a problem. just been on wait for 2 hours when the customer service said he'll put me thru straight away and i won't have to wait! must be big problems if i'm the next person in the queand still waiting 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12 Jan 2011 07:31:31 PM: Was contacted by Vodafone resolutions team, my wife and I have been released from our contracts. At this point in time they are not prepared to refund us any of the money we have paid for their failed (and continuing to fail) system. Nor are they prepared to pay us any compensation.

13 Jan 2011 08:14:34 PM: Well as a long term customer service enthusiast and a advocate for individualS, the staff member has the option to resign if he believes that the company is not worth working for. SO KEEP HAMMERING THE RETAIL STAFF AND THE IDIOTS WHO CANT HELP YOU, WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN INDIRECTLY FORCE THE RESIGNATION OF STAFF AS TOO STRESSFUL THEN WE ARE MAKE STEPS FORWARD WITH LARGE CORPORATE COMPANIES. TUSHAR

15 Jan 2011 12:50:30 PM: Tushar,you are a typical bully and people like you deserve all the bad things in life!!! I hope you get it. This is not the way true Australians think or speak.

15 Jan 2011 03:55:28 PM: Agree with above except he is also a fool, his comments are not pertanant to the original post. Tusher, go back to where you came from( if they let you back in)

21 Jan 2011 11:08:01 AM: Tushar thats very un-australian

22 Jan 2011 04:01:15 PM: As the person who posted the original post, words cant convey my relief having signed up with the big T.I dont have rose tinted glasses on and I know all telcos have their pitfalls, but knowing that the network has the necessary infrastructure to cope with the demand, and the wide coverage is very reassuring.
Lets see how I go with getting compensation from these mongrels for their incompetance.

Like so many, I have experienced the same things, lost calls, lost texts, calls going straight to voicemail even though I had full reception at the time...

I've had periods (lasting for up 2 days) when my email and internet will not work... full stop.

I have had issues since approx August, but didn't complain as they were pretty rare and they weren't interfering too much.

It was only in late November that the issues turned annoying and more frequent.

I visited 3 stores in 2 cities, I did sim checks but they seemed more interested in fixing the handset (in spite of my putting my sim into a different phone for 24 hours and having the same result) or getting me to pay for a new iPhone...

So I called VF for the first time on Dec 2, reported the issues... then again when I wasn't called back on Dec 6, then Dec 12, 16, and 31. I called on Jan 4 to speak to tech people to launch an investigation... I was told that I would be called the next day... then when they didn't call back by 9am on the 6th, I made a complaint with the TIO.

I then called VF again and told them that I wanted this settled quickly and painlessly for everyone, and after being on the phone for 2 hours with tech support I refused to talk to them again. They then said, and I quote "someone will call you within 24 hours to sort out how this can be settled"... no phone call on 7 Jan...

Then today, 10 Jan, after pestering the customer service person, I was put through to the cancellations area... probably not who I should have been put through to... I got a bit of a shock when told that the only record they had of my complaining about coverage was on Dec 2... so they considered this to be 'out of the blue, and just complaining about it now', then suggested that I shouldn't be listening to 'media hype'... I was then told to give three specific events of problems - as if I keep all my records?

I didn't appreciate the tone or attitude, I was told I could leave my contract but the exit fees of $495 would not be waived.

I spoke to the TIO to add this information...

I'm tired of this, wasting my time... I just want to leave...

10 Jan 2011 01:18:45 PM: That is terrible, I can't believe that was their response!

11 Jan 2011 02:25:13 PM: Vodaphone told me to replace my handset too. But I had to pay for it outright or break my contract for $827. So I bought a new handset outright, GUESS WHAT, didnt fix the problem. I think they should reimburse me for the handset I DIDN'T need.

16 Jan 2011 12:31:16 PM: This extremely convenient faulty record keeping of Vodafone's needs a lot more scrutiny- it could be why their pals at the TIO treat them so kindly.

I'm disabled with epilepsy and live on my own. My parents need to ring me during the day to check on me and I need to ring them them as well if I need to go to appointments etc.

Can you imagine the sheer panic my parents go through when they try to ring my mobile and I don't answer? My phone hasn't even registered that they tried to call me repeatedly so they have to jump into the car and race over to my house scared to death that I could have seisured and possibly killed myself. Then they get to my house only to find that I'm safe and sound after all that distress that they just went through.

It can take me up to four calls before I can actually ring someone (anyone) and even then I tend to lose reception and quite often the call is so badly garbled that I have to try and ring them back. Sometimes I have to try up to four times to ring this person back and each time I get through the line can still end up garbled and I have to start again.

I'm scared.

Just a quick note to all disabled Vodafone users: if you are using Vodafone then I urge you to stop being disabled because you are putting yourself at risk. Sorry people, but if you don't laugh you'll cry.

1 Jan 2011 08:55:18 PM: Perhaps voda should be giving customers distress flares, just in case there is an emergency!!!!

3 Jan 2011 05:06:41 PM: ROTFL Oh you are absolutely priceless! lol

8 Jan 2011 04:57:47 AM: For all those customers who have received distress flares, we apolgise, we are having a few issues with them, so we ask you to return them to nearest store

8 Jan 2011 04:43:26 PM: Ha ha :)

9 Jan 2011 02:43:23 PM: For those of you looking for your nearest store we wish to apologise for the delay in locating one that has useful staff.

Please 1555 and wait for 2 hours to be directed around several different departments only to find that all the stores with useful staff members have been closed down for the past seven months.

9 Jan 2011 10:02:25 PM: Guys - this is a serious issue. I have had the same problem trying to get through to local emergency services through 'Directory Assist'. It is really scary.

10 Jan 2011 07:00:28 PM: I believe you!

11 Jan 2011 12:06:30 PM: Okay. First of all, I also have epilepsy. So don't take the following as a knock out, because I know the panic and terror that comes with it.
Anyway. If contacting your mobile is a recurring problem and you're having trouble getting out of your plan... Your health is worth paying the extra to GET A LANDLINE WITH ANOTHER PROVIDER.
Vodafone are useless and unsympathetic, I completely agree. But there are a lot of actions you need to be taking that can resolve this issue that don't involve your mobile phone provider. Good luck in the future :)

11 Jan 2011 03:55:56 PM: It depends on whether you can afford a home phone as well as a mobile. You don't get much money on a pension if you're disabled, plus all the bills and rent have gone up MASSIVELY lately.

Are you on a contract or a plan? If you're on a contract you're pretty much screwed unless you can get out of the contract.

13 Jan 2011 11:34:05 AM: Hi everyone, I'd just like to update my post by saying that I had to take my complaint to the TIO and that I got a call today letting me out of my contract without charge. So god bless the TIO!

I can find a safer phone company now.

27 Jul 2011 10:49:14 PM: I'm soooo glad for u. Have the same problem (uncontrolled Epi.) and got out b4 I was fully into the contract. Their service put me off and I nvr got a promised fone

My son had an accident while away on camp, he was taken to a city hospital, we live in the country 2 hours from the hospital, had no reception at all and had to borrow someones mobile at a service station to ring the hospital, not good enough

15 Jun 2011 08:38:53 PM: wow!!!! thank god i read this message before actually claim this so to speak good charitable offer! guess what? my connection both on my wireless and mobile phone are getting worse everyday! i am seriously thinking of moving on to another provider... i now realise its better to pay more for quality service then being ripped off for mediocre provision! thank you Voda

21199 Someone from QLD thinks vodafone is Like the Qld Labor party at 26 Mar 2012 11:11:11 AM

The only organisation loosing its customers faster than Vodafone is the the Labor party in the Queensland election. Some similarities are deceiving their customers, lying, covering up, making promises that aren't kept (its been 2 years that they have said that they have been improving the network)and a complete lack of service and support. Fortunately, I have only 2 months to go and it goodbye Vodafone forever.

CUSTOMER CARE? What a fucking joke in itself!
They don't care shit about their customers.
Assholes should get some aussies to do some decent call centre work.
Seems like all the indian call centre workers are on curry break.

21 Jan 2011 09:23:13 AM: You're a racist idiot. Onshore or offshore makes no difference if you don't have non-racist courtesy. Have you tried to call Telstra or Foxtel CC lately? If you took the time to actually listen and explain your problem well enough then they might be able to help but no doubt your just a racist bogan who can't help but get abusive and angry because you have no self control.

no reception to make or receive calls, no reception to send messages. Dont forget the occasional "sim not allowed" message.
I would have thought some part of the contract signed with vodafone said they had to actually provide a service for the money they charge........

6 Jan 2011 01:37:44 AM: I thought they were a charity with a CEO and shareholders.

1375 Someone from NSW thinks vodafone is going to have to be honest. at 21 Dec 2010 06:01:15 PM

Here's a plan.
Everyone, visit at least one Vodafone store this week.
Loudly protest your issues and convince at least one new customer not to sign up. Direct them to this website.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that the staff should be the target. But since Vodafone are practicing false and misleading conduct and there is no mass media campaign to alert the public, it is up to us to talk the truth.

DO YOUR BEST TO DISCOURAGE NEW CUSTOMERS FROM JOINING VODAFONE UNTIL THEY CAN REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE OFFERING A SERVICE THAT THE CUSTOMER WOULD EXPECT.

21 Dec 2010 06:02:42 PM: Great idea!

21 Dec 2010 06:05:25 PM: Sounds good, just don't take it out on the staff, it really isn't there fault Vodafone has all these issues. They would be experiencing them as well - but convincing people not to use Vodafone is the only way.

We have been getting a few compliments on this site so I'm hoping to add a feature tonight so we can mark posts as compliments or complaints. That way we have an accurate estimate of the complaints vs. compliments. Thanks for your support.

21 Dec 2010 06:05:31 PM: I've enjoyed doing that with certain phones.

21 Dec 2010 06:15:39 PM: Not a good idea. You'll just look foolish. Just give yourself an uppercut instead which may help you realise that you have several resolutions and avenues available to you to solve your individual problems and if you couldn't then you obviously didn't have a case.

21 Dec 2010 06:17:40 PM: People shouldn't be complimenting on here. It's a whingesite. Start a sister site called Vodaforever or something...

21 Dec 2010 06:19:07 PM: Vodaforeveronhold?

21 Dec 2010 06:24:44 PM: Yea I never expected any compliments, these just came out of left field. I haven't spoken to anyone in person who has compliments for Vodafone. How about two options, compliment and 'something else'?

21 Dec 2010 06:32:06 PM: You do this in my store and I will have security escort you out. I don't care what your issues are, the staff in the store are not the ones responsible, so you have no right to treat them like crap to make yourself feel better.

Take a moment and think how you would feel if someone came to your place of work and did this.

21 Dec 2010 06:36:35 PM: And if three people are doing it at the same time? Since Vuvuzellaphone won't employ enough staff to handle "issues" do you think they'll fund extra security?

21 Dec 2010 06:45:20 PM: think of Vodafone store staff like this...would you abuse a nurse for long wait times at the ER?

21 Dec 2010 07:06:01 PM: Well,perhaps. I have known of disgruntled govt employees-eg refusing to issue fines. Perhaps VF staff could switch from Grinches and facilitate things a little too freely? Or discuss problems loudly enough to discourage custom. A touch of Ghandi.

21 Dec 2010 07:22:10 PM: No I don't think anyone should sell out the company they work for. That's not integrity.

21 Dec 2010 07:36:41 PM: I didn't write this to incite any bad feeling toward the staff. I actually think the store staff are not bad, just the 'meat in the sandwich'.But, unless Vodafone is forced to broadcast it's issues to potential customers, I can't think of many other ways to warn the general public. I guess it is ultimately a case of caveat emptor - at least sites like this and Whirlpool exist for consumer information. Well done Vodafail.com!

21 Dec 2010 07:39:14 PM: ...further, I do not advocate I'll feeling towards the store staff. That would be detrimental and obviously the wrong way of going about things.

21 Dec 2010 08:03:00 PM: Oskar Schindler could have been accused of not acting with integrity and selling out the er "Company" he worked for. "I was only doing my job" is rarely a defence in committing or permitting crimes.

21 Dec 2010 08:54:29 PM: I was only following orders lost all credibility at the Nuremberg trials...........

21 Dec 2010 08:56:04 PM: I for one have just advised 4 individual people not to sign up/go near/do anything with Vodafone. I am a man fulfilled!! Ready to move onto the next four now..........

22 Dec 2010 07:53:40 AM: Great idea! However people should learn to read the original poster wuite clearly states:
"I'm not suggesting for a moment that the staff should be the target."
hence the comment about calling security is ridiculous.

22 Dec 2010 11:09:05 AM: Haha likening store staff to Nazis = Awesome and so badly off the mark!Vodafone staff are there to help you. Help them to help you.

22 Dec 2010 03:13:05 PM: No, YOU're likening Australian Vodaf*ckinguseless staff to Nazis. I'm just wondering how some of them sleep at night. Or did they have to have their hearts cut out and sacrifice a chicken to get a job at Vodaf*ckinguseless? If that is the case, I am not likening them to Incas, or Voodoo practicioners.

22 Dec 2010 03:16:03 PM: 7;$#160
"VoodooFone- where you have to practise the Dark Arts to get it to work"

22 Dec 2010 04:26:54 PM: they pay me 50k a year to listen to your shit....Great job, love the team, love the job.....its narrow minded rednecks that think the world owes them something is the issue here not the vodafone network..... They Took meee Jubbb!!! hurrdurr

22 Dec 2010 07:38:09 PM: our "shit'?- illuminating that a Voodoofone employee considers our valid complaints about a service that we pay to use and Voodoofone refuses to provide "shit". "That could explain a lot of things." I notice you just wrote "listen to" and didn't add "fix up".

22 Dec 2010 09:35:41 PM: How exactly is a sale person meant to fix a reception issue? Go out with tools to the tower and magicly fix it?

22 Dec 2010 11:47:39 PM: Just going to throw it out there that if,A) You go into a store and blame staff for a technical fault which obviously they didn't create nor are in fact in charge of fixing you should have your right to inhale oxygen taken away from you.

B) If you go into a store and act that way and someone from Vodafone chooses to alert authorities there are a number of charges to do with disruption of business practices and they can even go as far as to say harassment, as well as harassment (on the customers behalf) if the customer chooses to see you in the negative light. Think of the legal ramifications, do you want to be arrested possibly because you have a grievance with staff who aren't even at fault? Places like Mirvac or Westfield will not take nicely to people disrupting their rent payers.

23 Dec 2010 01:01:06 AM: Stop selling the phones and the plans that people can't use BECAUSE of the KNOWN technical issues. Not all Voodoofone stores are in Westfield centres. I think it is gutless to abuse the employees at the bottom of the food chain- it'd be funny if half of them went out on stress leave. Or DIDN'T call security if people were wearing the t-shirts or discussing their "issues" a little too loudly.

23 Dec 2010 01:03:50 AM: While waiting to be "served".

23 Dec 2010 03:43:51 PM: I work for VHA. It's a great company. Great company! It's a culture of success. Synergy and Ideation. This is for my next performance review.

23 Dec 2010 11:51:38 PM: Good one fuckwit, I hope security do a number on you

27 Dec 2010 08:23:58 AM: "21 Dec 2010 08:32:06 PM: You do this in my store and I will have security escort you out. I don't care what your issues are, the staff in the store are not the ones responsible, so you have no right to treat them like crap to make yourself feel better. Take a moment and think how you would feel if someone came to your place of work and did this."Would you please let me know what Vodafone store you are located at ?i will be organizing a protest out on the footpath of your store , and please please do what you say you will do and escort me away , the NATIONAL press coverage will be interesting , are you also going to deny my rights as a citizen to protest at the absolute crap service YOU provide? interestingly you defend your staff , they are the ones encouraging people into signing contracts , contracts they are fully aware Vodafone cant meetis there a reason there isnt much info on prepaid services, i have 2 pre paid Vodafone phones , very cheap phones , 1 is a 0415 number and the other is a 0416 number , the 0415 number works in any unlocked phone i have put it in , the 0416 number worked in every phone i put it in until about 6 days ago (no service ,goes straight to message bank) , i thought the actual phone was broken , so i put it into another phone ,same problem , so i get another Samsung unlocked phone from big w(brand new),yep thats it, it still doesnt work (yes there is credit on the sim) being a prepaid Sim i dont care very much about it , i now use optus ,thanks to absolutely no help from vodafone( im not suggesting it is network related ,, for all i know it could be the sim thats the problem)

27 Dec 2010 12:12:26 PM: "21 Dec 2010 08:32:06 PM: You do this in my store and I will have security escort you out."- hey you gutless BIGMOUTHED tool, feel free to let us all know WHICH STORE is "yours", and I will make sure you dont EVER get any business from ANYONE or ANY COMPANY I am associated with, ever again.

YOUR ATTITUDE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SEVICE THAT YOUR WHOLE COMPANY PROVIDES. Vodafone should be BANNED from signing up new customers, and invoicing ANYONE for ANY service, until you can meet the contractual obligations WITH YOUR CURRENT UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS..
So Mr. BIGMOUTHED GUTLESS TOOL, let us know WHICH SHOP IS YOURS SO WE CAN EXCERSIE OUR RIGHTS TO NOT GIVE YOU A SINGLE CENT OF OUR MONEY..

LOSER

27 Dec 2010 12:59:20 PM: As a member of staff you represent the company. Simple as that. So you SHOULD cop the abuse and hatred. That is what your company is creating in the marketplace. And if you as a staff member cop some of this hatred, maybe you will think twice before stitching someone up to a contract and service you know to be deficient and not of merchantable quality. So even though you personally may have not caused the problem, and you may not be part of the solution, SUCK IT UP. YOU DECIDE TO WORK FOR THIS SHYSTER COMPANY PLAYING THE LONG CON. You work for them? You too are fair game. You get what you deserve. You are just as responsible as anyone else there. Maybe if enough staff complain and protest something will change.

15 Jan 2011 01:10:32 PM: Omg what is happening to this country! Please people have a look at your posts and the hatred you are breeding, this is AUSTRALIA not America where everyone sues everyone for everything! Nor are we a middle eastern country where hatred and violence are the first thought that comes to mind to resolve issues. I am ashamed to believe that people even speak or think like the person above in Australia.

Spoke to 2 people on Christmas day, for a total of 25 minutes. In all, the 2 calls were dropped by the network 7 times! How pathetic is that? Thank goodness I only have 3 months on the contract to go, then vooooom! I'm outta here!

thumbs up to vodafail for poor reception and dropped calls, no when my girlfriend rings up and likes to babble on i know any minute it will drop out, and now i got a good excuse for not replying to her frequent SMS,,,keep up the good work VODAPEACE.

6 Jan 2011 02:56:39 PM: hahaha nature's solution ;)

8 Jan 2011 04:48:22 AM: Change to telstra, but pretend still with vodafone, then you can talk when u want and blame voda when you want to "drop out"

i was h vodafone for over 3 years and i left to join telstra because i was sick and tired having to climb onto a wall into my garden in kingsley to get coverage,Vodafone are greedy sighing up as many 3rd party phone providers,Shame on Vodafone!

Since taking over '3', dropouts have increased, download times increased, connection time increased. Hate to say it, but I might go back to OPTUS or, heaven forbid, Telstra....at least you expect crap service there...Anybody suggest a better option? Tin cans and string?

9 Feb 2011 11:44:07 AM: I switched my phone from 3 to optus due to pathetic coverage, then from optus to telstra, getting out of my contract each time! Had NO COVERAGE ISSUES with telstra at all

28 Jun 2011 08:55:15 PM: Have been a 3 customer for approximately 7 years now, and have noticed since vodafone took over the reception has been nothing short of appalling. will be moving carriers as soon as my contract is up in december

5407 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is Not good enough! at 27 Dec 2010 09:59:08 PM

I live at the fringe of their 3G coverage. I often not receive any incoming call from my friends and families because the hand set could not decide weather it's in 3/Vodafone coverage or roaming service. So I missed all the calls and SMS until next day or two. I thought me and my wife was the only people who had a bad luck service. I'm totally wrong until I know about this website on TV tonight. I am interested in to join the fight against second/third rate services at premium price! This is worst than Telstra and ADSL2 network!

You will be happy to know it is possible to break a Vodafone contract without paying anything. I cancelled a two year contract with Vodafone after arguing strongly with the the VF call centre. The operators there are trained to discourage people from breaking contracts but if you press them hard enough they will do it.

People need to stand up for their rights and not accept the lack of service Vodafone offers. Don't stand back and adopt a "she'll be right mate" attitude. At the end of the day if Vodafone is misleading the public and making you pay for something they can not deliver then you have every right to stop paying them money.

I have a Vodaphone USB WiFi stick that I thought would be better cost wise than tethering to my Telstra HTC. Bad bad move. Poor value due to the fact that I have never had a constant connection. Vodaphone have told me it is my location/my computer/the fact that I live in Tasmania etc etc. Fact, as I look at the signal strength of the WiFi stick right now, I have 1 bar, despite being 150M from a tower!!!
On a positive note, I happen to comment on my issue to a (Australian) Telstra call center operator and they instantly gave me 3GB of free data on my plan.

Kinda says it all!

27 Dec 2010 06:44:31 PM: Good comment. I struggled using anything voda, now I have a telstra iPhone 4, USB broadband and everything, and it just WORKS all the time. With the other providers they suck you in with 'cheap' prices, voda sales guy told me I only had to pay $69 for my mobile plan, never got a bill below $100, now I've got an iPhone 4 with telstra and for 5 months paid for the $79 cap each bill and I got a faster service with a better phone. And if you ever need service, you can always find a store close by.

5 Jan 2011 02:19:01 PM: i want that!! i should be sending vodafone my doctor bills for the stress they cause me!

my vodaphone broadband dongle drops out all the time while my wifes 3g will stay connected all day. You can't just connect again either without removing the dongle from the computer befor you reconnect again. It doesn't make a difference what laptop it's in either so they can't blame the laptop for its failure. GRRRRRRRRR

21 Jan 2011 09:01:57 PM: Vodafail & Terang=CRAP. Intermittant coverage for wireless, just a big FAIL. Had to go to Telstra 3g. Heaps more expensive but worth it just to get connection.

when i signed up for mobile internet i checked the coverage at the 2 places i stay. where i spend most of my time thay said it was in broadband area and other will be in broadband in a year or so.
I always have issues with it disconnecting, or it not connecting at all. i have been to the stores and they said said it was just a bad simcard and so ive had that replaced. but it doesnt change. now i swapped by useage and the customer service guy said i could go up to $39 month for 8GB so i agreed and now it says only 6 on myvodafone. i have emailed to complain and days later no one has bothered to return an email or call. not happy.

Vita bought from a Sony store with a Wipeout 2047 Vodafone free game deal sticker on it - code given by VF for the AU playstation store for game is invalid, Vodafone have denied that they have to help me and asserted that this is a Sony issue. Sony say its a VF issue and transfered me through to a VF AU number, where I spoke to someone whom was obviously in AU. VF have agreed to get back to me Monday at this stage.

Today i sent 2 requests to recharge my pre paid mobile account via my phone useing my CC Card ($100). The money had been taken out twice but still no credit...They gave me $10 credit so i could call my bank to confirm and yes my bank had confirmed it then i got got disconnected as the $10 had run out. Vodafone said i had to fax through the details and i will get the money back in 6 to 11 working days and no compensation in anyway. I just had to suck it up.
Even though ive wasted a few hours on the phone with them and not been able to make any more calls all day because i didnt want to give them any more of my money. Not a happy.

29 Dec 2010 08:27:33 PM: Coverage all over Darwin is the same as it was 3 - 5 years ago.. if they have done any improvements then it's not showing. Earlier in the year not even the Vodafone store in Palmerston shopping center would get a 3G signal that worked - in the middle of a city with 30k people!

On the other hand Optus coverage has improved MASSIVELY.. especially into the rural area it and they have plans to cover right around the harbor.

1493 Someone from VIC thinks vodafone is HAS LET ALL ITS CUSTOMERS DOWN at 24 Dec 2010 08:21:15 AM

I can tell you, its not just smart phone bandwidth hungry phones that are effected, for those who think its just iphone/HTC or whatever.

I have a plain Jane 3G phone, and mainly just use it for voice calls, the most basic of service, that requires the smallest amount of digital stream 9.6Kb or one voice channel to be exact, and I cannot even get that! garbled voice reception, dropped calls, No reception, always roaming, No timely SMS. When is the frustration going to stop!